TRIP: Traffic Fatalities Down for Second Straight Year

A new report by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, reveals that U.S. traffic fatalities declined for the second consecutive year in 2023, following a surge during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Despite the recent decline, traffic fatalities in 2023 remain significantly higher than a decade ago, with a 25% overall increase from 2013 to 2023. Pedestrian, bicyclist, and speeding-related fatalities have also risen sharply. From 2018 to 2022, crashes in U.S. highway work zones resulted in 4,316 fatalities, increasing 18 percent from 756 in 2018 to 891 in 2022. The report emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies, coordinated by transportation and safety agencies, to reduce fatalities and improve road safety for all users.