Traffic crashes in the U.S. are increasing at a record pace, according to the latest data estimates from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
NHTSA estimates of the first nine months of 2021 project that more than 31,700 people died in vehicle crashes from January to September 2021. That’s an increase of roughly 12% over projections from the same time-frame in 2020.
In Pennsylvania, that number has increased 9.7%, from 823 fatalities in 2020 to 903 in 2021. It is among 38 states projected to see a jump in fatal crashes.
PennDOT figures released Wednesday, which account for the entire year, differ a bit from NHTSA projections.
According to PennDOT, statewide traffic deaths increased from 1,129 in 2020 to 1,230 in 2021, an increase of 9%
“Safety on our roadways is a shared responsibility,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “Whether you’re a driver, passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist, we can all do our part to percent crashes and fatalities.”
In NHTSA data, the region that includes Pennsylvania, along with New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, saw an 11% projected increase.
Idaho shows the largest projected increase, 36.4%, with 206 fatal crashes in 2020 compared to 151 in 2021.
Projected fatal crashes in Nebraska were down by the largest amount, 18.4%, with 185 in 2020 and 151 in 2021.
A significant portion of that increase is due to more cars being out on the road, the data suggest.
NHTSA officials noted that according to preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration, vehicles miles traveled during the first nine months of 2021 increased by 244 billion miles, nearly 12%, over the same time-frame in 2020.
And looking at the figures from the perspective of fatality rates per 100 million people, the projected rates went from 1.35 per 100 million in 2020 to 1.36 in 2021.
