Nationally, the number of traffic fatalities continued to decline after peaking in 2021.
According to early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, in the 2024 calendar year, 39,345 people died in traffic-related accidents.
This is a decrease of almost 4 percent over the 40,901 deaths in 2023. If the estimated numbers hold, it will mean that fatalities have decreased every year since 2021.
While this news is a welcome relief, it is important to put the news in context. Despite safety initiatives and improvements, in 2015, the number of traffic-related deaths in the United States was only 32,893.
Unfortunately, Massachusetts went the opposite direction from the national trend. For 2024, NHTSA estimates 368 traffic-related deaths in Massachusetts.
In 2023, Massachusetts saw only 343 fatalities, so the number of fatalities went up over 7 percent year-over-year. The fatality rate per 100 million miles driven also went up in Massachusetts while decreasing across the country.
Safe driving habits among all drivers, especially younger drivers, protect lives
NHTSA’s preliminary estimate does not explain in detail why fatality rates are increasing in Massachusetts and, for that matter, throughout New England.
However, others, including the regional office of the American Automobile Association, or AAA, suggested that there are more vehicles on the road in the region.
The AAA also pointed to the usual suspects among bad driving habits, including driving under the influence, distracted driving and speeding. The AAA also highlighted a disturbing upward trend of younger drivers being involved in fatal accidents.
Younger drivers especially, but drivers of all ages, who operate on the roads in this state need to make sure they travel at a safe speed and follow the posted speed limit. They also must pay attention to the road and avoid mixing their driving with alcohol or drugs.
If drivers do not take these simple safety steps, their victims’ families can hold them financially responsible should they seriously injure or kill someone in an accident.
