• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • The Rearview Mirror: Triumph of the Bean Counters
  • VW Teases U.S. Version of ID.Buzz — and Here’s What We Know About the Electric Microbus
  • Make Sure You're Good to Go for the Holiday Weekend
  • Hyundai, LGES Building $4.3B EV Battery Plant in U.S.
  • New Vehicle Sales Set to Rise, Used Vehicle Sales Expected to Drop in May
  • Ford Teaming with Tesla to Make Charging Even Easier
  • Q&A: VinFast CEO Van Anh Nguyen Talks Tough Reviews, Tough Learning Curve, Bright Future
  • Stellantis Invests in new Lithium-Sulfur EV Battery Tech
  • The Safest Cars For Your Teenage Driver
  • Honda Teams with Aston Martin in Formula One Return
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2023 Electrified GV70 AWD Prestige
    • A Week With: 2023 BMW XM
    • A Week With: 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 4Matic
    • First Drive: 2024 Audi Q8 e-Tron Prestige
    • First Drive: 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge Single Motor
    • A Week With: 2023 Ford Bronco Everglades Edition
    • First Drive: 2024 Kia Seltos
    • A Week With: 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country B5 AWD
    • 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige AWD
    • First Drive: 2023 VinFast VF 8 City Edition
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > news > Safety > U.S. Motor Vehicle Deaths in 2021 Outpacing Last Year’s Results

        U.S. Motor Vehicle Deaths in 2021 Outpacing Last Year’s Results

        Through first six months, more than 21,000 people have died on roadways.

        Michael Strong
        Michael Strong , Managing Editor
        Sept. 08, 2021

        For 15 years, U.S. roadway deaths declined. That ended in 2020, despite traffic numbers being down due to the pandemic restrictions. Through the first half of this year, drivers are on pace to surpass last year’s numbers.

        rollover crash
        Motor vehicle deaths are up 16% through the first half of the year, according to the National Safety Council.

        According to the National Safety Council, motor vehicle deaths are up 16% through the first half of the year, based on initial estimates. That amounts to approximately 21,400 fatalities on America’s highways and other roads.

        “These figures are not only alarming but devastating as we see once again too many lives lost on the roads,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO. 

        “It is up to each and every one of us to do everything we can to be safe and keep each other safe. NSC implores every person to take safe driving practices seriously; they could be the difference between someone living or dying.”

        By the numbers

        The decline in traffic across the U.S. seemingly would have resulted in a decline in fatalities; however, early estimates show an estimated 38,680 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes — the largest projected number of fatalities since 2007, NHTSA revealed.

        Crash First Responders
        More than 21,000 Americans died on the U.S. roadways through the first half of 2021.

        It’s an increase of 7.2% compared to the 36,096 deaths reported in 2019. Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration shows vehicle miles traveled in 2020 decreased by about 430.2 billion miles, or about a 13.2 percent. 

        The fatality rate for 2020 was 1.37 fatalities per 100 million VMT, up from 1.11 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2019. NHTSA’s analysis shows that the main behaviors that drove this increase includes: impaired driving, speeding and failure to wear a seat belt.

        At the end of 2020, NSC estimates showed that 42,000 people may have died on the roads, indicating a 24% rise in the death rate while the number of miles driven dropped 13%, the group noted. Through the June, the death rate climbed another 3%, signaling that the dangerous driving behaviors that grew last year have carried over.

        That’s worrisome as amount of traffic on the roads is continuing to grow as the impact of the pandemic continues to wane, at least in terms of the mobility of people.

        Who is the problem?

        Porsche Gembella crash
        The lighter traffic volumes due to shelter-in-place orders gave some drivers a little too much courage in 2020.

        It’s difficult to point a finger at “who,” but “where” is certainly a question worth asking. Some states did see drops in the number of deaths, including Maine, Kansas, Alaska, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Wisconsin.

        However, there were eight states with increase of 30% or more, including: 

        • South Dakota (+51%, 22 more deaths) 
        • Oregon (+51%, 88 more deaths) 
        • Minnesota (+41%, 61 more deaths) 
        • Idaho (+39%, 30 more deaths) 
        • Nevada (+38%, 50 more deaths) 
        • Utah (+36%, 40 more deaths) 
        • Vermont (+33%, seven more deaths) 
        • Tennessee (+30%, 156 more deaths)

        NHTSA’s estimates suggest a higher number of deaths in the third and fourth quarter of 2020, compared to the previous year. If this holds, the overall number will climb closer to the NSC’s projection of 42,000 deaths.  

        “Our roads are becoming riskier not only each day but each year,” said Mark Chung, NSC vice president, roadway practice. “We need to help each other in making the roads in our communities safer for all users. If you witness unsafe driving behaviors, say something if you are able and possibly save someone from losing their life.”

        The estimated cost of motor-vehicle deaths, injuries, and property damage in the first half of 2021 was $241.9 billion, according to the NSC.

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published

        The Rearview Mirror: Triumph of the Bean Counters

        Yesterday
        VW tease for ID Buzz three row

        VW Teases U.S. Version of ID.Buzz — and Here’s What We Know About the Electric Microbus

        May 26, 2023

        Make Sure You’re Good to Go for the Holiday Weekend

        May 26, 2023

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: