Despite Less Driving, Traffic Deaths Still Increasing

People are driving fewer miles than they were in 2019, but more are dying on roadways. Traffic deaths spiked 18 percent from 2019 to 2022 — though miles traveled fell 3 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Experts blame bad driving habits that took hold when roadways suddenly cleared out as the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020. At the same time, law enforcement agencies shifted their priorities away from traffic violations as many struggled to hire officers. States and cities are trying to reduce the number of deaths caused by risky driving with a mix of more police officers and controversial technologies such as speed and red-light cameras. Read more from Governing here.