The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its most recent projections for traffic fatalities in 2022 on Monday, covering the first nine months of the year.
The NHTSA estimates that 31,785 Americans died in traffic incidents through the first nine months of 2022, compared to 31,850 through the first nine months of 2021, a 0.2% decrease in total, according to a release from the agency.
The third quarter of 2022 saw decreased fatalities, the second straight quarter where the rate of death dropped. Before that, traffic fatalities increased year-over-year for seven straight quarters, starting in the third quarter of 2020.