And that’s not all, pedestrian deaths fell 2.7% and bicycle fatalities dropped just a little more at the rate of 2.9%. With Coronavirus restrictions in place in 2020, NHSTA officials are cautiously optimistic that fatality rates will continue to decrease.
Officials report that fewer vehicles have been on the road due to lock downs in 2020, but unfortunately driving behaviors have seemed to worsen. Drivers are seemingly taking more risks like driving while intoxicated, speeding, driving while distracted by phones or food, and failing to use child restraints and seatbelts. Hopefully, by year end, drivers will clean up their act.
Bu looking back at 2019, the news wasn’t all rosy. The only category the NHTSA tracks that did not show a significant decrease was that of accidents involving heavy trucks like tractor trailers.
Accident deaths involving tractor trailers did decrease, but sadly by just one single fatality when comparing 2019 to 2018 death rates involving tractor trailers. Just one soul was spared among the thousands of lives lost every year to heavy truck accidents.
