NHTSA Releases Early Estimates Showing Nationwide Decreases in Traffic Fatalities in Priority Safety Areas During First Half of 2024, Including Pedestrian and Speeding-Related Crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released its early estimates of traffic fatalities in key safety subcategories for the first half of 2024, projecting a decline in nearly all subcategories. Fatalities decreased in key areas, including pedestrian and speeding-related crashes, rollover crashes, and crashes involving unbuckled occupants.

“We are encouraged by the declines estimated in these key categories but know we still have more work to do to make our roads safer for everyone,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. “We will use every tool we have to save lives, reduce injuries and prevent risky driving behaviors.” 

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched the National Roadway Safety Strategy, a roadmap to address the national crisis in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on America’s highways, roads and streets. 

The NRSS is complemented by unprecedented funding through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. On Nov. 15, the Department announced the final round of 2024 awards, with an additional $172 million in grants to 257 communities. Since 2022, the Safe Streets and Roads for All program has funded projects in more than 1,600 communities, supporting roadway safety for around 75% of the U.S. population. 

As compared to the first half of 2023, fatalities in key subcategories in 2024 decreased: 

• 12% during out-of-state travel 
• 9% in ejected passengers  
• 8% on urban interstates 
• 7% in passenger vehicle occupants less than 10 years old 
• 7% in unrestrained occupants of passenger vehicles 
• 7% in passengers 
• 6% in passenger vehicle rollover crashes 
• 6% in passenger vehicle occupants  
• 6% in speeding-related crashes
• 5% in rural or urban collector roads/local roads
• 5% involving roadway departure crashes
• 4% at night
• 4% during weekends
• 3% in pedestrians

In September, NHTSA also announced its early estimates of motor vehicle traffic fatalities for the first half of 2024, estimating that traffic fatalities declined by 3.2% compared to the same period in 2023, with the second quarter of 2024 marking the ninth straight quarter of declining fatalities. The report showed an estimated fatality rate of 1.17 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in the first half of 2024, down from the projected rate of 1.21 fatalities per 100 million VMT in the first half of 2023. 

Since January 2021, NHTSA finalized a significant number of safety initiatives aimed at reducing traffic deaths, such as a new requirement for passenger cars and light trucks to come equipped with automatic emergency braking systems by 2029. In coordination with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the agency continues to work toward finalizing a similar requirement for heavy vehicles. These initiatives support the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy.