With the unprecedented times we have all been living in as of late, one would think that a silver lining would be a reduced number of vehicles on the road, and as a result, less traffic fatalities. However, as it turns out, neither assumption is true. According to the Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the first nine months of last year actually saw both an increase in the number of miles driven and a correlating increase in traffic fatalities.
Largely unprecedented number of fatalities
The FHA noted that the number of miles driven by Americans increased 11.7% in 2021, and a corresponding 12% increase in traffic fatalities occurred, according to the NHTSA. Of course, this correlation is not causation, but it does show that our nation’s roads are as unsafe as they have ever been. In fact, these numbers have not been this high since 2006, which was the worst year of record.
A nationwide problem
About 80% of states saw their traffic fatality rate increase. Only 10 states and the District of Columbia saw a reduction, while two saw their numbers remain flat. This means that the fatality problem is one that touches nearly every street in every state, including Los Angeles, California.
The exact numbers
According to the NHTSA, there were 31,720 deaths from traffic accidents between January and September of 2021. The prior year only saw 28,325.
Takeaways
For our Los Angeles, California, readers, these numbers mean that not only are our roads extremely dangerous, but also the roads around the country. Always be mindful of our surroundings, but know that if a car accident occurs, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is always an option to get justice from the negligent driver