U.S. Traffic Deaths in 2024: A Small Step Forward

U.S. traffic deaths decreased by 3.2% in the first quarter of 2024, marking the lowest number of fatalities since early 2020. Despite this improvement, the fatality count remains considerably higher than pre-COVID levels, with 8,650 deaths reported compared to 7,901 in the same period of 2020.

U.S. traffic deaths fell 3.2% in the first three months of 2024 -- the lowest number since the same period in 2020 -- but crash fatalities still remain sharply above pre-COVID levels.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday estimated 8,650 people died in traffic crashes through March 31 this year, which is still significantly higher than the 7,901 people killed in the first three months of 2020. Traffic deaths spiked after the start of COVID-19 and remain elevated but have fallen for two consecutive years.