US traffic deaths fell 4.5% in first nine months of year

[December 13, 2023]  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. traffic deaths fell 4.5% in the first nine months of the year to 30,435 after sharply rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will tell a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on Wednesday.   

Downtown Graysville is seen in Graysville, Alabama, U.S., February 23, 2022. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage

"While we are optimistic that we're finally seeing a reversal of the record-high fatalities seen during the pandemic, this is not a cause for celebration," according to written testimony from Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson that was seen by Reuters.

Traffic deaths are still above pre-pandemic levels but lower than the 31,880 deaths reported in the first nine months of 2022.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

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