There is finally some good news amid the bad news that has dominated the news this year: fatal car accidents are on the decline not just in California but throughout the country. However, many are wondering if the decline is only because of COVID. Let us take a look at the stats and see if we can get a solid answer. If you have been injured in a car accident, or lost a loved one in an accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
A Preview of Recent Data Has Been Released
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a preview from their 2019 Fatality Analysis Reporting System, along with estimates for the first six months of 2020. At the same time, they are issuing two companion reports, one that focuses on traffic safety in the second quarter of 2020 and one that focuses on drug and alcohol prevalence in catastrophic and deadly accidents during COVID.
A Look at 2019 Traffic Deaths
First, let us look at the numbers for 2019 compared to0 2018. In 2018 there were 36,835 fatalities caused by car accidents, compared to 36,096 in 2019 – this is a decrease of about 2%. Consider as well that this was also when vehicle miles traveled jumped almost 1%. The real test, the number of fatalities per 100 vehicle miles traveled (VMT), went down from 1.14 in 2018 to 1.10 in 2019 – which are the lowest numbers we have seen since 2014.
In fact, fatal accident numbers were done in almost all major traffic safety categories, including passenger vehicle occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and pedacyclists. Notably, there was no real change in fatalities involving large trucks – there were 5,006 in 2018 and 5,005 in 2019.
A Look at 2020 Accidents
They also released stats for the first six months of 2020. The second quarter of 2020 was the height of the COVID pandemic, and there was an expected decrease in overall traffic deaths. Compare the 8,870 people who died in car accidents in that quarter of 2020 with the 9,172 deaths in the same quarter of 2019. This is a decrease of 3.3% – which should be good news all around. But there is a catch.
A closer look at the data shows that there was also a significant decrease in the amount of traffic volume in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019. When we look at the number of traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, 2020 saw 1.25 in the first six months, compared to 1.06 in 2019.
What does this mean? Only time will tell, as more statistics are released, and we can take a closer look. However, if you have a family member who is included in the fatal accidents in 2019 or 2020, you can contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
