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The percentage of passenger vehicle drivers talking on handheld phones decreased from 2.5 percent in 2021 to 2.1 percent in 2022 (Figure 1 and Table 1). The percentage of drivers speaking with visible headsets while driving remained unchanged from the previous year’s level of 0.4 percent (Figure 1 and Table 2). Drivers’ visible manipulation of […]
This report examines challenges States face improving traffic safety information systems. The foundation for the report is the State Traffic Records Assessment Program data from 2018 to 2022 and technical assistance requests States have made to NHTSA since 2015. Of the six traffic records systems (crash, driver, vehicle, roadway, citation and adjudication, and injury surveillance), […]
When approaching a lane reduction, drivers typically attempt to merge into the appropriate lane as soon as possible, even in congested conditions. Aggressive driving can occur when drivers merge at the last minute because they are potentially perceived to be “cutting the line.” This perception could stem from traditional traffic control device messaging suggesting that […]
As defined for this fact sheet, pedalcyclists are bicyclists and other cyclists including riders of two-wheel, nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered solely by pedals. This fact sheet does not include pedalcyclist crashes that do not involve motor vehicles. This fact sheet contains information on fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes based on data from the […]
This study examined the effects of posted speed limit changes on traffic safety by conducting before-and-after assessments using crash and speed data from multiple sites. Despite numerous studies reporting the negative impacts of increased speeds on traffic safety, many states have raised their posted speed limits. In response, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA […]
The number and rate of traffic fatalities in the U.S. surged starting in 2020, even as the rate of vehicle travel plunged while the nation grappled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend of increasing traffic fatalities continued in 2021, as vehicle travel returned to near pre-pandemic levels. From 2021 to 2022 the […]
NHTSA has released the 2022 early estimate report presenting the projections of traffic fatalities (42,795) and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) (1.35) for 2022 (Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2022, DOT HS 813 428). That Crash*Stats shows a marginal decrease of about 0.3 percent as compared to […]
All 50 States have “Move Over” laws to protect law enforcement officers and other first responders stopped on our Nation’s roads. Yet one-third of the public is not aware of these laws, and traffic-related incidents continue to be the number one cause of death among on-duty law enforcement officers. For campaign materials, visit this […]