These Stats Show Driving Deaths Are Bad & Getting Worse
The NHTSA just released its traffic fatality estimates for the first quarter of 2022 and they’re high. Really high.
According to the report, the first quarter of 2022 is the 7th quarter in a row where driving deaths have risen, with 9,560 fatalities this year compared to 8,935 during the same period in 2021.
This 7% increase marked the highest first quarter levels since 2002.
Naturally, these stats don’t stand alone, as drivers spent more time behind the wheel (up 5.9% to 40.2 billion miles). The number of fatalities per million miles traveled in this same period of time was 1.27 (up from 1.25 in 2021).
Though each state on its own wasn’t as disappointing (Rhode Island, North Dakota, and Arizona all showed decreases in death rates), these 6 increased the most (by high margins) and likely had a big influence on the national average:
- Hawaii 58.3%
- District of Columbia 62.5%
- Vermont 66.7%
- Virginia 71.8%
- Connecticut 73.6%
- Delaware 163.2%
While lawmakers may take action in many of these states, drivers can always take it upon themselves to do their parts to decrease their incidence rates, become more informed drivers, and improve their decision making.
