US Traffic Fatalities Jump to Highest Levels in Two Decades: Federal Agency

A file photograph shows a traffic jam as cars head towards the approach tunnel of Heathrow Airport, west London, Britain November 26, 2015. Reuters/Peter Nicholls/files

Nearly 43,000 people died on roads across the United States in 2021, hitting a 16-year high, according to federal officials in an estimate released Tuesday.

Last year, an estimated 42,915 people died in automotive accidents, up 10.5 percent over 2020’s numbers. It’s also the highest figure since 2005, according to data posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).