According to initial estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, the number of fatalities on this country’s roads decreased in 2023.
NHTSA estimates that just under 41,000 people died in fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2023. This marks a drop of about 3.5% from the 42,500 deaths confirmed in 2022.
Another piece of good news is that the number of deaths per 100 million miles driven also dropped from 1.33 in 2022 to 1.26 in 2023. However, NHTSA attributes some of this downward trend to people driving more in 2023 as opposed to 2022.
While NHTSA used this good news as an opportunity to celebrate some progress toward making our roads safer, the number of people who die each year in car accidents is both sobering and attention-grabbing.
One should also keep in mind the hundreds of thousands of people who suffer serious injuries in car accidents each year.
NHTSA: Distracted driving remains a significant concern
When it released its preliminary numbers, NHTSA also announced a new national campaign to prevent distracted driving.
Distracted drivers continue to be a hazard on the roads both in Lackawanna County and across the country. NHTSA attributed over 3,300 deaths and over 289,300 injuries to distracted driving in 2002 alone.
The organization is working closely with local law enforcement and recently launched public service announcements warning drivers of the serious consequences of distracted driving.
Whether the collision was because of distracted driving or some other negligent behavior, those in northeast Pennsylvania who have been victims of serious or fatal motor vehicle accidents, including family members who have lost a loved one, have legal options available to them.
They may be able to use our state’s legal system to obtain compensation for their out-of-pocket expenses, lost income and other damages.