New Report: NHTSA’s Latest Crash Test Data

In March 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its traffic crash data report which details accident data for 2020. This report is an annual report prepared by the NHTSA that compiles a number of key crash and accident statistics for the given year.

Our Tifton car accident attorney takes a look at the data provided in each year’s report that allows for comparisons to be made on a year-to-year basis and can highlight potential new trends in traffic-related accidents across the nation.

This Year’s Key Findings

Some of the key findings from this year’s crash test data report include the following statistics:

Fatal crashes. In 2020, 38,824 deaths occurred in the United States as a result of motor vehicle crashes.
Speeding-related fatalities. 2020 saw an increase of 17% in the number of speeding-related fatalities.
Alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities. The year also saw an increase of 14% in the number of fatalities related to alcohol-related driving incidents.
Non-use of seatbelt fatalities. Unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities caused by seat belt non-use increased by 14% in 2020.
Police-reported crashes. 2020 saw a decrease of 22% in the number of police-reported crashes.

“Highest Number Since [Year]” Data

There were also a number of “highest number since [year]” data results in the report:

Motorcyclist fatalities. In 2020, the number of motorcyclist fatalities increased by 11%, which is the highest number for such fatalities since the NHTSA first began collecting data back in 1975.
Bicyclist fatalities. With a climb of 9.2%, 2020 also saw the highest number of bicyclist fatalities since 1987.
Pedestrian fatalities. The number of crashes involving pedestrian deaths went up by 3.9%, which is the highest number of such fatalities since 1989.

Summary of the Report’s Overall Trends

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in fewer miles traveled in 2020 than had been traveled in 2019 – a reduction of 11%, with 2,903,622 miles traveled – and overall in 2020, there were fewer crashes and injuries sustained, the number of fatal crashes actually increased by 6.8%.

Another key trend shows the potential consequences of risky driving behavior. Forty-five percent of fatalities involved accidents in which the drivers were either speeding, not wearing a seat belt, or impaired by alcohol.

The Report’s Data Sources

Data for the report is drawn from the 2020 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Annual Report File (ARF), and the 2020 Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS).

FARS. FARS data includes every motor vehicle traffic crash taking place on a public roadway resulting in a death (or deaths) within 30 days of the accident.
ARF. ARF refers to the FARS data file related to the specific year.
CRSS. CRSS is the system designed by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) to provide an estimate of police-reported crashes involving injuries, as well as traffic accidents resulting in property damage only.

Contact a Tifton Car Accident Attorney Today for Assistance

The data from the NHTSA’s traffic crash test report shows how driving can be dangerous for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike, especially when drivers are engaging in risky behaviors. If you or a loved one have sustained injuries as a result of a traffic crash, contact a Tifton car accident attorney today.