After the past few years, individuals throughout Washington, DC and the rest of the United States were ready to get out of their homes. Many people opted to take to the open road. Unfortunately, what should have been a time of relaxation and celebration, has unearthed a disturbing trend regarding driver safety.

Data shows driver fatalities are increasing

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, when compared to 2020's data, there was a 10.5% increase in the number of fatalities that took place on roads in the United States in 2021. This data is also alarming simply because 2021's totals were the highest reported number of annual fatalities on U.S. roads in 16 years.

What caused such a large spike in fatalities?

While there is no single cause of the current rise in motor vehicle accidents leading to fatalities, experts speculate that there are several reasons for this trend. For one, many people felt excited to get out of their homes and such excitement led to documented instances of both seat belt violations and cases of speeding rising during 2020.

Another reason for the increase in fatalities is that more people were on the roads in 2020 when compared to previous years. Because more people were driving throughout the United States, it likely contributed to the rise.