Traffic Deaths Decrease in First Half of 2023

The number of traffic fatalities is down 3.3 percent through June 2023 when compared to 2022, according to a report. 

An estimated 19,515 people died in crashes over the first six months of 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s a drop from the 20,190 in the same time frame last year. 

This comes despite a 2.3 percent increase in vehicle miles driven. The report also noted that traffic fatalities have declined for the last five quarters straight. 

When comparing different regions in the NHTSA report, the northeastern region (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) experienced 15.1 percent fewer fatalities in the first six months of 2023. On the other end of the spectrum and the country, the northwestern region (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) saw traffic fatalities increase 9 percent over that time frame. 

Overall, eight of the 10 regions experienced fewer traffic fatalities when compared to the first half of 2022. 

On a state-by-state level, Massachusetts has the lowest fatality rate — 0.53 — while Mississippi and South Carolina are tied for the highest — 1.73.