2022 marks deadliest year on US roads in two decades: NHTSA

More than 9,500 people were killed in traffic crashes in the first quarter of 2022 in the United States, show estimates from the country’s auto-safety regulator.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 9,560 people died in motor vehicle crashes between January and March.

The figure marks an increase of about 7% as compared to the 8,935 fatalities projected for the same quarter in 2021, reported NHTSA, adding that American roads had their deadliest first quarter in 20 years.

“The overall numbers are still moving in the wrong direction. Now is the time for all states to double down on traffic safety,” NHTSA Administrator Steven Cliff said in a statement.

NHTSA’s report does not break down traffic fatalities by root cause of the accident, but the usual factors of speeding, as well as impaired or distracted driving are in the mix.

However, Cliff said one-third of traffic deaths are typically caused by drivers impaired by alcohol or other substances.

“A number of issues are causing the rise in traffic deaths, including reckless driving and fewer police officers on the road” Jonathan Adkins, the Governors Highway Safety Association’s executive director said. "Seeing a police car gets drivers to slow down," he added.

Adkins said he expects the year 2022 to be the third consecutive year for traffic deaths to increase as he’s heard from states that have said deaths continued to be high after the first quarter.

MG