NHTSA estimates traffic deaths in 2024 lower in five years

Early estimates from the National Traffic Safety Administration on the highways of traffic deaths in 2024 indicate that the number of people who died in traffic accidents will reach the lowest point in five years.

NHTSA estimates estimated that 39345 people died in traffic accidents last year, a decrease of 3.8 % of 40,901 deaths reported in 2023 – the first time since 2020 that the number of deaths is less than 40,000.

The quarterly deaths that started in the second quarter of 2022 continued with the fourth quarter of 2024 on the occasion of the eleventh separate decline in a row in traffic deaths, according to the administration.

“It is encouraging to see that traffic deaths continue to decrease from their highest levels in the epidemic,” Peter Simchwsler said in a statement.

The Americans are leading more miles while death rates continued to decline. Initial data from Federal Highway Management shows that vehicle miles increase by 1 %, while the death rate for 2024 decreased to 1.20 deaths per 100 million cars. This is the lowest since 2019, but it remains higher than an average average 1.13 in the seven years before Covid.

NHTSA is also estimated that deaths decreased in 35 states and Porturico in 2024, while the increases are expected in 14 states and province of Colombia, compared to 2023, one state remained unchanged.