MD Traffic Fatalities Down Despite More Road Trips: Report

MARYLAND — The variety of deadly crashes on Maryland roads dropped in 2021 regardless of extra drivers taking to the streets following widespread COVID-19 lockdowns, in line with a brand new report by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration.

A complete of 42,939 individuals have been killed in motorized vehicle accidents on U.S. roadways in 2021, essentially the most vital variety of fatalities in a single yr since 2005, in line with the report. The quantity additionally represents a ten p.c improve from 2020, when simply over 39,000 individuals have been killed.

Maryland was amongst solely a handful of states the place crash fatalities dropped in 2021. In line with the report, the state noticed a 2.1 p.c lower in traffic-related deaths.

Regardless of the drop, site visitors deaths attributed to alcohol use elevated within the state. About 35 p.c of all site visitors fatalities within the state have been attributed to alcohol, a roughly 2.6 p.c improve from 2020.

Nationwide research inspecting the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on site visitors and security confirmed that the variety of miles traveled by motorists diminished sharply primarily as a result of journey restrictions, in line with the Nationwide Institutes of Well being.

Regardless of the drop through the early months of COVID-19 lockdowns, the variety of miles traveled by U.S. drivers rebounded to almost pre-pandemic ranges by June 2020, in line with the NHTSA, and continued to climb into 2021.

Nevertheless, researchers at NIH additionally seen a spike in dangerous behaviors, together with rushing and driving beneath the affect of medication.

Numbers within the NHTSA report replicate that conclusion. Nationwide speeding-related fatalities elevated by 7.9 p.c in 2021, alcohol-impaired fatalities elevated by 14 p.c, and seat belt non-use fatalities elevated by 8.1 p.c.

All through 2021, the variety of miles traveled in a automobile elevated by 11 p.c over 2020, the report stated.

Distracted driving additionally affected the variety of fatalities on U.S. roads in 2021, in line with the report. In truth, fatalities in distraction-related crashes elevated by 12 p.c nationwide, from 3,154 individuals in 2020 to three,522 in 2021.

In line with the report, distracted driving accounted for 8.2 p.c of all reported fatalities.

Learn the complete report on-line.