Statistics seem to show a slight drop in the number of people killed in car accidents across the country during the first 9 months of 2022, compared to the same period of time the previous year. However, the number of people killed in pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents increased over the same period of time.
New statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show a very slight drop in auto accident fatalities in the first 9 months of last year, compared to the same period of time in 2019. A total of 31,785 people were killed in car accidents between January and September 2022, compared to the previous year. That was a 0.2% drop. The bad news, however, is that bicycle accident and pedestrian accident wrongful deaths continued to rise over the first 9 months of 2022 as they have for several years now.
Car accident deaths across the country and in Georgia have been at elevated levels since 2020 when the pandemic struck and lock downs were imposed. In spite of a drop in traffic volumes with few people driving on the streets, the number of auto accidents began to spike, confounding experts. Since then, we have learned that auto accident numbers began to rise in 2020 because of reckless driving behaviors, including speeding. With lower traffic volumes on the road, motorists became much more comfortable driving at high speeds, and those behaviors have continued since then. Additionally, the lack of enforcement campaigns during this time also meant more numbers of people driving without wearing their seatbelts or driving under the influence of alcohol, contributing to those high statistics.
Traffic fatality numbers continued to remain high right through 2021. That is why the news of this drop in traffic accident fatality numbers in 2022, however slight, does provide us with a glimmer of hope that the worst is behind us and that initiatives to reduce accident wrongful death numbers are finally beginning to show results. Last year, authorities conducted a number of traffic enforcement and awareness campaigns across the country to specifically crack down on reckless behaviors like speeding and these efforts have possibly contributed to a drop in fatality numbers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning against any complacence at this news. The agency states that car accident fatality numbers continue to remain high, and there has been a drop of just 65 deaths in the first 9 months of 2022 compared to the same period of time in 2021. That means that you must continue to be vigilant, wear seat belts while driving and drive at safe speeds. Look out for pedestrians and bicyclists around you, and avoid distractions while driving.
The Atlanta car crash attorneys at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons injured in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and determine if you have legal options to a claim for damages. You may be eligible for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income and other types of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case.