Fatal traffic accidents in U.S. continue to decline
The final quarter of 2023 was the seventh consecutive period to see a decline in roadway deaths.
The number of Americans that died in a traffic accident during 2023 was down 3.6% compared with the year prior, according to early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The NHTSA reported that the final quarter of 2023 was the seventh consecutive period to see a decline in roadway deaths.
Overall, the fatality rate stood at 1.26 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, down from 1.33 fatalities in 2022. A total of 40,990 people died in car accidents this past year.
At the same time traffic deaths were declining, roadway miles traveled increased more than 2%, or about 67.5 billion miles, according to the administration.
These declines follow years of historic levels of traffic fatalities with 2021’s second quarter seeing the highest quarterly increase since the creation of the NHTSA’s fatality analysis reporting system in 1975.
Overall, traffic deaths were down in eight of the 10 regions NHTSA tracks. There was a 1% increase in the area encompassing Kentucky; West Virginia; Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Delaware, Virginia; and North Carolina. Region 10, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, saw a 5% increase in roadway deaths.
Based on raw numbers, Texas’ 4,294 roadway deaths was the most seen in any state during 2023.
The following list reviews the states that saw the biggest declines in traffic deaths in 2023, based on early estimates from the NHTSA:
1. Alaska
Year-on-year decline in 2023: 30.5%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 57
2. Maine
Year-on-year decline in 2023: 25.8%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 135
3. Massachusetts
Year-on-year decline in 2023: 19.8%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 348
4. Hawaii
Year-on-year decline in 2023: 19%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 94
5. Delaware
Year-on-year decline in 2023: 15.4%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 137
6. New Mexico
Year-on-year decline in 2023: 12.7%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 407
7. Utah
Year-on-year decline in 2023: 12.2%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 57
8. Louisiana
Year-on-year decline in 2023: -11.5%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 802
9. New Hampshire
Year-on-year decline in 2023: -11.6%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 129
10. New Jersey
Year-on-year decline in 2023: -10.2%
Total roadway deaths in 2023: 615
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