The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) has estimated that 36,750 people were killed on U.S. roadways in 2018, a one percent decrease from 2017
The NHTSA added that preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”) showed that vehicle miles traveled (“VMT”) in 2018 increased by about 12.2 billion miles, or about a 0.4 percent increase.
The fatality rate for 2018 was 1.14 fatalities per 100 million VMT, down from 1.16 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2017, the NHTSA said.
The NHTSA also pointed out that the fourth quarter of 2018 represented the seventh consecutive quarter with year-to-year decreases in fatalities and the fatality rate. In addition:
- Fatalities were projected to have decreased by 1.8 percent during the fourth quarter of 2018.
- Fatalities in crashes involving at least one large truck, pedestrian fatalities, and pedalcyclist fatalities were projected to increase by three, four, and 10 percent, respectively.
- Older drivers (65+) involved in fatal crashes also saw a slight increase.
- Six out of 10 NHTSA regions were estimated to have decreases in fatalities in 2018 as compared to 2017.
In a statement, the executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association (“GHSA”), Jonathan Adkins, said that the “continued increase in the number of pedestrians and pedalcyclists killed” was especially alarming. The NHTSA projected these numbers to be up four percent and 10 percent, respectively, in 2018.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].