In New Jersey, around the northeast and across the United States, road safety is a daily concern. While constant dangers abound including speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving and recklessness, it is imperative to keep track of crash statistics and find common denominators as to why they are happening. When heading out on the road in any capacity as a driver, passenger, motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian, it is wise to be cognizant of these risks to try and stay safe. If an accident does happen, it is also critical to know what options are available to help with the recovery process.
NHTSA numbers show fatalities on the rise in first half of 2021
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that its calculations for road fatalities from January through June 2021 shows there has been a dramatic increase from the previous year. The total of nearly 20,200 deaths is more than 18% higher than the same juncture in 2020. This puts 2020 on track to be the worst year for road deaths since 2006.
In the first three months of the year, there were nearly 9,000 auto accident fatalities. This was a rise of more than 13% from the first three months of 2020. That increased to more than 11,200 from April through June – an increase of 23.1% from 2020 and the worst total in more than three decades. In NHTSA Region 2 which includes New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, there was a 13% increase in road deaths.
Part of this is believed to be due to more drivers being on the road. In 2020, fewer people were driving due to the ongoing health issues. Working from home, remote learning and a lack of leisure activities limited the amount of driving people were doing. That has incrementally subsided in 2021 and is believed to be a contributing factor to the accident increase. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is set to issue a National Roadmap Strategy with recommendations as to how safety can be improved including advice for drivers, communities, engineers and others.
After an auto accident, advice as to how to move forward may be needed
When there is an auto accident with injuries and death, those involved or left behind can face a litany of challenges. For example, an injured person could need a long hospitalization, rehabilitation, extensive care and be unable to work. This is costly in myriad ways. When there is a death, these challenges are multiplied. From the start, it is important to have professional advice with how to move forward. Consulting with those experienced in auto accidents is a wise step.
