Emergency staff work the scene of a deadly automobile accident in August 2021 in Tulsa, Okla. Nearly 43,000 individuals died in U.S. site visitors crashes in 2021, with deaths because of dashing and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.
Michael Noble Jr./Tulsa World through AP
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Michael Noble Jr./Tulsa World through AP
Emergency staff work the scene of a deadly automobile accident in August 2021 in Tulsa, Okla. Nearly 43,000 individuals died in U.S. site visitors crashes in 2021, with deaths because of dashing and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.
Michael Noble Jr./Tulsa World through AP
DETROIT — Nearly 43,000 individuals died in U.S. site visitors crashes in 2021, the very best quantity in 16 years with deaths because of dashing and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.
The 2021 closing numbers, launched Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, confirmed earlier estimates by the company displaying a ten.5% enhance in deaths over 2020. That’s the very best quantity since 2005 and the biggest share enhance since 1975.
Data exhibits a 12% rise in deadly crashes involving no less than one distracted driver, with 3,522 individuals killed. That prompted the company to kick off a $5 million promoting marketing campaign in an effort to maintain drivers centered on the street. Agency officers mentioned such circumstances doubtless are under-reported by police.
The variety of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and bicycle owner fatalities had been up 2% for the yr. The variety of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, whereas fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving had been up 14%.
Speeding-related deaths elevated 7.9%, whereas crash deaths involving giant vans weighing over 10,000 kilos had been up 17%.
At a information convention Monday in Seattle, NHTSA centered on distracted driving fatalities, which audio system mentioned are totally preventable if individuals cease utilizing their cell telephones, consuming, or doing different issues that divert consideration from the street.
“Remember it solely takes a second to alter your life endlessly,” mentioned Sophie Shulman, NHTSA deputy administrator.
Steve Kiefer, a retired General Motors government whose son, Mitchel, was killed in a 2016 distracted driving crash, mentioned cell telephones are a major explanation for distraction. But know-how is out there to stop it together with “don’t disturb” modes, in addition to apps and in-car methods that watch drivers to ensure they’re paying consideration.
“All of this know-how is out there right this moment, and there is not any cause we will not use it and roll it out shortly,” Kiefer mentioned.
Distracted driving deaths are associated to America’s dependancy to cell telephones, mentioned Kiefer, who began a basis with the objective of ending distracted driving. He mentioned 90% of persons are conscious of the hazard of distracted driving, but 80% admit to doing it. In 25 states with legal guidelines towards hand-held mobile phone use, site visitors deaths, crashes and insurance coverage charges have dropped, he mentioned.
“We consider that laws will change conduct,” Kiefer mentioned.
Mitchel Kiefer was driving from house to Michigan State University on Interstate 96 when site visitors slowed and his automobile was hit from behind by a driver who was distracted by her telephone, Kiefer mentioned. His automobile was knocked throughout the median and into oncoming site visitors, the place he was killed immediately.