The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported Thursday that an estimated 19,515 people died in motor vehicle crashes over the first six months of 2023. That marks a 3.3% decline compared with the same period in 2022 and a fifth straight quarter of declines but is still 14.6% higher than 2019.

What You Need To Know

  • 19,515 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes in the first six months of 2023

  • That's 3.3% fewer than the same period in 2022 but 14.6% higher than the same period in 2019 before the pandemic

  • Maine saw the largest decrease in traffic fatalities; Rhode Island saw a 193% increase

  • NHTSA said it has provided $886 million so far this year to state highway offices to implement safety measures

“After spiking during the pandemic, traffic deaths are continuing to slowly come down, but we still have a long way to go,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The agency noted the decrease in fatalities came despite a 2.3% increase in vehicle miles traveled.

The fatalities were not evenly distributed. While 29 states saw traffic death declines, 21 states saw increases. Rhode Island saw the largest increase in fatalities (+193%), followed by the District of Columbia (+64.9%), Idaho (+29.7%), Wyoming (+29%) and Montana (+16.8%).

Maine saw the largest decrease in fatalities (-46.6%), followed by Alaska (-26.3%), Hawaii (-24%), Nebraska (-21.6%) and Massachusetts (-18%).

NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said the agency is working to address traffic safety in multiple ways. It recently introduced new rulemakings for vehicle technologies, such as requiring auto makers to include rear seat safety belt warnings and automatic emergency braking systems.  

It has also increased funding for state highway offices as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. NHTSA has provided $886 million to states so far this year to implement programs to reduce risky driving and protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.