The amount of individuals who lost their lives in car accidents in 2023 went down by 3.6 percent from the year before, even though the expected number of miles driven went up, as stated by official data that was made public Monday.
An approximate 40,990 individuals passed away in car crashes in 2023 — a decrease from 42,514 in 2022.
Meanwhile, the total distance traveled in 2023 went up by around 2.1 percent, equaling about 67.5 billion miles, based on initial information from the Federal Highway Administration.
This past year marks the second consecutive year with a decline in traffic deaths, following a 1.7 percent decrease in 2022. The final quarter of 2023 also indicated the seventh consecutive quarter in which fatality rates dropped, starting from the second quarter of 2022.
Before this period, there was a significant rise in traffic fatalities. In 2021, deaths increased by 10.8 percent, totaling 43,230 fatalities. In 2020, fatalities grew by 7.3 percent, totaling 39,007. The year before showed a slight decrease in the fatality rate.
The release of the new data comes as government officials are striving to hasten the decreasing trend in fatalities, with a newly renamed initiative aimed at addressing distracted driving.
The initiative is named “Put the Phone Away or Pay,” and it “reminds drivers of the deadly dangers and the legal consequences — including fines — of distracted driving,” per a statement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“Distracted driving is extremely dangerous,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman remarked in the statement. “Distraction comes in many forms, but it is also preventable. Our rebranded initiative reminds everyone to Put the Phone Away or Pay, because distracted driving can cost you in fines — or even cost your life or the life of someone else on the road.”
The “high-visibility enforcement” of distracted driving laws will take place from Thursday through Monday, NHTSA mentioned, and it will target drivers aged 18 to 34 because data suggests they are more likely to die in “distraction-affected crashes.”
The NHTSA effort involves a $5 million national media ad purchase on TV, radio, and digital platforms. The advertisements will run until next Monday.
