U.S. Traffic Deaths Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels, NTSB Warns

The National Transportation Safety Board highlights a troubling rise in motor vehicle fatalities, urging increased federal oversight.

Traffic deaths in the U.S. remain significantly higher than pre-COVID-19 levels, posing a growing public health crisis.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy states that U.S. roadways have become more deadly compared to other developed nations.
Inadequate federal oversight by the FMCSA and NHTSA is cited as a contributing factor to the rise in traffic fatalities.
The first half of 2024 saw 18,720 motor-vehicle deaths, a slight decrease from 2023 but still above pre-pandemic figures.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasizes the need for greater attention to traffic deaths, which outnumber fatalities in other transportation modes.