It may surprise those in our state, but, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accident fatalities spiked to record numbers during the first nine months of 2021. This was a trend seen nationwide, not just in New England.
Increased number of people on the roads
In 2021, as a nation, we drove an addition 244 billion miles than 2020, a nearly 12% increase. This is according to the Federal Highway Administration. Per 100 million miles, there was an increased rate of 1.36 traffic fatalities in 2021.
Specific numbers
According to the NHTSA, they identified at least 31,720 people that lost their lives on United States roads in 2021. When compared to the estimated 28,325 lives lost in 2020, 2021 was a historic year. Such historic numbers have not been seen since 2006, which was the deadliest in recorded traffic fatality history.
Does the DOT have a plan?
Indeed, the DOT released a comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy, a comprehensive strategy to help build up roadway safety and protections to reduce the number of traffic fatalities. Their goal is to make sure that human negligence does not result in deaths, or at least, it results in less deaths. Of course, this strategy will take years, if not decades, to be implemented, and there is no guarantee that the strategy will work.
How can New Englanders cope?
For those in East Hartford, Connecticut, concerned with roadway safety, one can prepare by being a safe and courteous while driving. However, there simply is no way to avoid the negligence of others, regardless of how safe one drives. But, if the unthinkable should happen, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit can help victims and their families fight for justice.
