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Emergency crews at a fatal crash in Campbell County, Ky. (Albert Cesare/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)

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��The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported fatalities in large truck-related crashes were down 2% in 2020 from 2019, but risky driving behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic caused the number of overall on-road fatalities to rise by 7%.

According to preliminary estimates, 4,895 fatalities involved large trucks in 2020, down from 5,005 the year before. Overall, fatalities increased to 38,680 in 2020, up from 36,096 in 2019, NHTSA said.

The agency also said that risky driving behaviors, including failure to wear a seat belt, speeding, and drinking while driving were identified as contributing factors to the rise in overall fatalities.

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For Release: 2020 Fatality Data Show Increased Traffic Fatalities During Pandemic - Risky driving behaviors including failure to wear a seatbelt, speeding, and drinking while driving identified as contributing factors: — nhtsagov (@NHTSAgov)

“While Americans drove less in 2020 due to the pandemic, NHTSA’s early estimates show that an estimated 38,680 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes — the largest projected number of fatalities since 2007,” the agency said in a release.��

Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration shows overall vehicle miles traveled in 2020 decreased by about 430.2 billion miles, or about a 13.2% decline, NHTSA said. The fatality rate for 2020 was 1.37 fatalities per 100 million VMT, up from 1.11 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2019.��

NHTSA’s projections show significant increases in fatalities during the third and fourth quarters of 2020 compared with the corresponding quarters of 2019.��

The preliminary findings also show that traffic fatalities rose in most major categories in 2020, including among pedestrians, motorcyclists and for people on bikes.

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NHTSA’s research suggested that throughout the COVID-10 crisis and associated lockdowns, driving patterns and behaviors changed significantly, and that drivers who remained on the roads engaged in more risky behavior.

“Traffic data indicates that average speeds increased throughout the year, and examples of extreme speeds became more common, while the evidence also shows that fewer people involved in crashes used their seat belts,” NHTSA said.

“Loss of life is unacceptable on our nation’s roadways, and everyone has a role to play in ensuring that they are safe,” NHTSA acting Administrator Steven Cliff said in a statement. “We intend to use all available tools to reverse these trends and reduce traffic fatalities and injuries.”

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