AAA: Traffic Deaths Rose 17% From 2020 Through 2022

According to a new study by AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety, dangerous driving behaviors such speeding, impaired driving, and not wearing a seatbelt contributed to the rise in fatal crashes when compared to pre-COVID-19 times.

Over 114,000 people were killed on U.S. roads from May 2020 to December 2022 due to traffic crashes. This is a 17% jump, affecting young drivers (aged 20-24) the most. Men also consistently exceeded estimates by 14-19%. The study pinpointed rises in late-night and early-morning crashes, an increased number of drivers under the influence of alcohol, and a significant rise in crashes in all age groups up to 55. 

“There are still far too many road users who lose their lives in preventable crashes,” said Dr. David Yang, president of the AAA foundation. “The findings from this latest AAA Foundation study underscores the importance of addressing traffic safety from an equity perspective – communities across the United States must provide safe transportation options to meet the needs of their users.”

AAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are teaming up to help prioritize policy, infrastructure, and enforcement that helps curb crashes across the 10 metro areas affected the most by the findings of the study. Putting resources in the right place can help construct a path towards lowering national traffic deaths to zero.