US Traffic Fatalities Dip Slightly in First Half of 2018

Aug. 27, 2018
Preliminary estimates indicate a leveling off of the recent upward trend in motor vehicle deaths, with the number of fatalities in the first six months of 2018 dipping just slightly – less than 0.5 percent – from six-month 2017 estimates.

August 27, 2018—Preliminary estimates indicate a leveling off of the recent upward trend in motor vehicle deaths, with the number of fatalities in the first six months of 2018 dipping just slightly—less than 0.5 percent—from six-month 2017 estimates, reported Insurance Journal.

According to the National Safety Council, approximately 18,720 people died on U.S. roadways between January and June, compared to 18,770 during the same period last year. An additional 2.1 million people are estimated to have sustained serious crash-related injuries during the first six months of 2018—a 1 percent drop from 2017 six-month projections.

According to the safety group, the small drop is a sign of stabilization of the steepest two-year increase in over 50 years, which occurred between 2014 and 2016. If the preliminary 2018 estimate holds, the U.S. could see its third straight year with about 40,000 roadway deaths, reported Insurance Journal.

While the national trend has remained stable, the NSC’s early estimates indicate some states have seen progress. In the first half of this year, several states—including Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan and New York—have experienced at least a 10 percent drop in motor vehicle deaths. A sample of states with increases through the first six months include California (3 percent), Florida (7 percent), Oregon (9 percent) and Texas (3 percent).

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