Nationwide, fatal car crashes have been on the rise ever since the pandemic. There was a sharp rise in deadly accidents the year after COVID-19 first spread, with most states seeing anywhere from a 10-15% increase in traffic deaths in 2021 from 2020. Only two states (Rhode Island and Missouri) maintained the same death rates, while five states decreased their traffic fatalities by about 10% from 2020 to 2021.
Nearly 43,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US in 2021, the highest number of deaths since 2005, according to the US Department of Transportation. Overall, there was more than a 10% increase in traffic deaths since about 39,000 deaths were reported in 2020. Compared to the roughly 36,000 traffic deaths in 2019, 2021 saw an 18% increase in fatal traffic accidents nationwide.
Recent early estimates indicate that 40,990 people died in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023, about a 3.6% decrease from the 42,514 traffic fatalities reported in 2022, according to NHTSA.
There was a 20.4% change in deadly car accidents in Massachusetts from 2020 to 2021. In 2020, there were 343 traffic deaths, but in 2021, there were 413 fatal traffic accidents. In 2022, these numbers continued to increase, with 434 fatal car accidents reported.
National Fatal Car Crash Data
Nationwide, passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in car crashes have fallen slightly since 2021. In 2021, there were 26,465 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities, but that number came down to 24,420 in 2022.
In total, there were 42,514 fatalities due to car crashes in 2022, slightly down from the total of 43,230 deaths in 2021, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Types Of Fatal Crashes That Increased From 2020 to 2021
- Deaths in multi-vehicle crashes: increased by 16%
- Deaths on urban roads: increased by 16%
- Deaths of drivers 65 years old or older: increased by 14%
- Pedestrian deaths: increased by 13%
- Deaths in crashes with at least one large truck involved: increased by 13%
- Daytime traffic deaths: increased by 11%
- Motorcyclist accident deaths: increased by 9%
- Bicyclist deaths: increased by 5%
- Deaths related to speeding: increased by 5%
- Deaths related to alcohol-impaired drivers: increased by 5%
Types Of Fatal Crashes That Increased From 2021 to 2022
- Deaths in large-truck crashes: increased by 2%
- Pedestrian fatalities: increased by 0.7%
- Pedalcyclist (including bicyclist) fatalities: increased by 13%
- Motorcyclist fatalities: increased by 1.2%
- Deaths in hit-and-run crashes: 0.5% increase
- Hit-and-run pedestrian deaths increased by 4.3%
- Hit-and-run pedalcyclist fatalities increased by 18%
- Fatal crashes involving older drivers (65 years old and older): increased by 4%
Risky Driving Is A Leading Cause Of Deadly Car Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released $740 million in funding for states to implement programs to address risky driving habits.
Experts report that the increase in traffic injuries and deaths is primarily caused by an increase in dangerous driving habits, including speeding, distracted driving, drug- or alcohol-impair driving, and not buckling up. Students who admitted to texting or emailing while driving were also more likely to report other risky behaviors, such as not wearing a seat belt, riding with a driver who drank alcohol, and driving after drinking alcohol, according to a CDC survey.
In addition to dangerous driving, safety advocates report that roads in the US are designed more for speed than the safety of road users.
"We face a crisis on America's roadways that we must address together," said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in an NHTSA press release.
A Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a new Safe Streets and Roads for All program to improve road safety. The program will invest up to $6 billion over five years to fund local efforts to reduce car crashes and traffic deaths. Counties, cities, towns, and transit agencies can apply for funding to create or update comprehensive safety action plans or for funding to implement and carry out projects and strategies aimed at increasing road safety.
"This crisis on our roads is urgent and preventable," said Dr. Steven Cliff, NHTSA's Deputy Administrator. "We will redouble our safety efforts, and we need everyone – state and local governments, safety advocates, automakers, and drivers – to join us. All of our lives depend on it."
Recent Massachusetts Fatal Car Crash Data
The most recent comprehensive state crash data, as State Traffic Safety Information reported, indicates 434 fatal car crashes in Massachusetts in 2022. This is an increase from the 413 reported fatal accidents in 2021 and a significant increase over the past decade from the 351 fatalities reported in 2013, which is about a 24% increase. Of the 434 deaths, 400 of them took place in urban areas, indicating that fatal crashes are much more likely to take place in cities in Massachusetts.
Of the 434 deadly car crashes in Massachusetts in 2022:
- 123 deaths involved an alcohol-impaired driver
- 116 deaths involved speeding
- Of the 594 drivers involved in fatal crashes, 533 were over 21 years old
- 94 pedestrians were killed, which is 22% of all fatalities
- Nine bicyclists were killed, which is 2% of all fatalities
- 77% of vehicle occupants used seatbelts
- 92% of accidents took place in urban areas
Alcohol-Related Fatalities:
Although alcohol-related fatalities are a large contributor to the deadly crashes in Massachusetts, Massachusetts as a state has fewer reported fatalities caused by drunk driving than the national average. With 123 of 434 fatal accidents involving alcohol-impaired driving, that means 28% of fatal car crashes in Massachusetts involve alcohol-impaired drivers. This is a decrease from the 36% of fatal crashes in 2021 involving alcohol in Massachusetts.
Nationally, 32% of the 42,514 fatal car crashes in 2022 involved alcohol-impaired drivers. The state with the lowest amount of fatal car crashes involving alcohol came in at 22%.
Motorcycle Fatalities:
In 2022, 57 traffic deaths (13% of the total fatal accidents) involved motorcyclists. This number has, for the most part, been relatively consistent over the years, with 58 motorcyclist fatalities in 2018, 46 in 2019, 55 in 2020, and a recent high of 75 in 2021.
Types of Cars Involved in Fatal Accidents:
Among the 434 traffic deaths in 2022 in Massachusetts, 62% of those who died were occupants of vehicles. Of all fatalities among vehicle occupants, 35% were occupants of passenger cars, 26% were occupants of light trucks, and 1% were occupants of large trucks.
Motorcyclists made up 13% of all fatal accidents, and nonoccupants - either bicyclists, pedestrians, or others - made up 25% of all fatalities.
The Human Toll Of Distracted Driving In Massachusetts
Recent data from NHTSA indicates the extreme dangers of distracted driving. In 2022, 3,308 people were killed due to distracted driving, and 289,310 people were injured in car crashes involving distracted drivers nationwide.
The NHTSA's new campaign, "Put the Phone Away or Pay," was announced this year. Its goal is to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and remind drivers of its deadly consequences and legal consequences, such as fines.
"Distracted driving is extremely dangerous," NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. "Distraction comes in many forms, but it is also preventable."
Distracted drivers kill at least nine people each day in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Distracted driving is anything that takes the driver's attention away from driving. About 3,000 people die in car crashes involving a distracted driver each year. In addition to 3,141 people killed by distracted driving in 2020, 400,000 people were injured by distracted driving.
The three main types of distraction are visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distractions involve taking your eyes off the road, manual distractions involve taking your hands off the wheel, and cognitive distractions involve taking your mind off driving.
In Massachusetts, it is illegal for drivers to have a hand-held phone conversation or text while driving.
If you are driving at 55mph, sending or reading a single text message is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed, according to the CDC. Despite the risks, more than half of drivers admit to using their phones while on the road.
In 2019, people aged 25-34 years old were most likely to be involved in fatal car crashes. About 1 in every 5 people killed by a distracted driver were walking, riding a bike, or doing some activity not in a vehicle. This means that roughly 20% of distracted driving deaths involve victims not in cars at the time of the accident.
Injured In A Massachusetts Car Accident? Call Or Text Spada Law Group For A Free Consultation
We've helped thousands of people in Massachusetts over the last 30 years get the recovery they need after a car accident. In fact, Spada Law Group has been recognized as one of the Top 20 Car Accident Attorneys in Boston for 2022. Whether you were driving, walking, biking, or on a motorcycle - Spada Law Group's injury lawyers can help if you were injured in an accident. As personal injury lawyers, you never pay us a penny until we win your case.
We have offices in Chelsea, Springfield, Peabody, and Newburyport, but we proudly serve the entire state. We can meet with you remotely from the comfort of your own home. Contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you get the recovery you deserve after your injury.
