NHTSA finds traffic fatalities back down to pre-pandemic levels

Traffic fatalities last year dropped to their lowest rate since before the pandemic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported Tuesday.

The agency, part of the Transportation Department, said preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration found 1.2 people died for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2024, the lowest since 2019, even as the number of miles driven increased by 1%.

Nationwide, 39,345 people died in traffic crashes last year, a 3.8% decrease from 40,901 deaths in 2023. According to NHTSA, it’s the first time the number has fallen below 40,000 since 2020.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/apr/8/nhtsa-finds-traffic-fatalities-back-pre-pandemic-levels/