The number of fatal car crashes spiked by 21% in Washoe County last year. Here's why. msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
More than 42,000 people died in traffic accidents in 2020 - an eight percent increase and the first jump in four years despite more people than ever working from home
42,060 people died in vehicle crashes in 2020, an 8% increase over 2019 and the first jump in four years
Plus, the fatality rate per 100 million miles driven spiked 24%, the largest annual percentage increase since the council began collecting data in 1923
Last year s deaths were the most since 2007 when 43,945 people were killed in vehicle crashes
It is estimated that 4.8 million people were injured in crashes last year
Federal data shows that Americans drove 13% fewer miles last year, or roughly 2.8 trillion miles
AP Auto Writer
DETROIT Pandemic lockdowns and stay-at-home orders kept many drivers off U.S. roads and highways last year. But those who did venture out found open lanes that only invited reckless driving, leading to a sharp increase in traffic-crash deaths across the country.
The nonprofit National Safety Council estimates in a report issued Thursday that 42,060 people died in vehicle crashes in 2020, an 8% increase over 2019 and the first jump in four years.
Plus, the fatality rate per 100 million miles driven spiked 24%, the largest annual percentage increase since the council began collecting data in 1923.
And even though traffic is now getting close to pre-coronavirus levels, the bad behavior on the roads is continuing, authorities say.
Prior to 2020, National Safety Council (NSC) data showed that fatal motor-vehicle deaths decreased for three consecutive years, with 39,107 deaths on the road in 2019.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday delayed a release of coronavirus guidelines designed to ease restrictions for fully vaccinated Americans.
The agency’s guidelines were expected to align with comments made this week by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who suggested small gatherings indoors among vaccinated people were probably safe. The relative risk is so low that you would not have to wear a mask, that you could have a good social gathering within the home, Fauci said at a White House task force briefing Monday.