In the first three months, the U.S. traffic deaths rate fell to its lowest level?since 2014. This follows a dramatic?rise of road fatalities during the COVID pandemic.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported on Wednesday that traffic deaths dropped by 4.3%, to 7,770, in the three months ending March 31. This is the lowest number of traffic fatalities since 2015. The quarterly fatality rate dropped to 0.99 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, the lowest figure since 2014.

NHTSA reported that the number of fatalities in traffic for the full year 2025 was the lowest since 2019. The fatality rate also fell to 1,10 deaths per 100 million vehicle mile traveled, which is the second-lowest figure ever recorded.

The number of road deaths in the United States increased dramatically during the COVID pandemic of 2020 and continued to rise for many years.

Bicyclist deaths are a cause for concern. They increased by 4% last year to 1,148 and reached their highest level in over four decades in 2023.

The year 2026 will be the fifth consecutive year of declines. U.S. traffic deaths jumped 10.8% to 43,230 in 2021, the highest number in a single-year since 2005.

Experts said that as U.S. highways became 'less crowded' during the pandemic some drivers perceived police to be 'less likely?to issue tickets. This led to riskier driving. Experts said that some drivers also drove more dangerously because they were impaired by alcohol and drugs taken at home.

The U.S. death rate was much higher during the pandemic than other developed countries.

According to a 2023 study by the?NHTSA, crashes cost taxpayers directly $30 billion and society in general $340 billion. The total cost of crashes to society was $1.37 trillion when quality-of life valuations were added.

(source: Reuters)