US Traffic Deaths Declined Sharply in First Quarter of 2026

WASHINGTON – Traffic fatalities in the United States fell significantly during the first three months of 2026, according to figures released Wednesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The decline follows a sharp increase in road deaths that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agency reported that 7,770 people died in traffic incidents in the period ending March 31, a 4.3% decrease from the same period in the previous year. This figure marks the lowest number of fatalities for the first quarter of a year since 2015.

In addition to the drop in the total number of deaths, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled also improved. The rate fell to 0.99, which is the lowest quarterly figure recorded by the NHTSA since 2014.