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.
“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)
