Traffic Fatalities Decline for a Third-Straight Year 2019, According to New Data

New data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on March 5 showed a third consecutive year of decreasing traffic-related deaths in 2019. 

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data estimates that 36,120 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes. "This represents an estimated decrease of about 440 (down 1.2%) from the reported 36,560 fatalities in 2018, even though Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) increased by 0.9%," according to the press release. " As a result, the fatality rate for 2019 was 1.10 fatalities per 100 million VMT, down from 1.13 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2018."

The 2019 data also estimates that pedestrian fatalities caused by automobile drivers also decreased by 2% compared to 2018, when pedestrian fatalities increased. Revised traffic fatality estimates were released in October of last year.