top of page
T.R.U.S.T.

Less driving but more deaths: Spike in traffic fatalities puzzles lawmakers

Updated: Nov 17, 2023

Some think more police officers and speed cameras would help.

Stateline BY: TIM HENDERSON NOVEMBER 10, 2023 Traffic deaths are lingering near historic highs in most states despite less driving overall, prompting policymakers to consider deploying more police or installing automated monitoring such as speed cameras to curb speeding and reckless driving.

People are driving fewer miles than they were in 2019, but more are dying on roadways. Traffic deaths spiked 18% from 2019 to 2022 — though miles traveled fell 3%, according to a Stateline analysis of federal records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Experts blame bad driving habits that took hold when roadways suddenly cleared out as the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020. At the same time, law enforcement agencies shifted their priorities away from traffic violations and many struggled to hire officers amid heightened scrutiny and criticism, especially after a police officer killed George Floyd in May 2020 in Minneapolis.


View the full article: Statelines.org

10 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page