Traffic deaths rose 14 percent in the first six months of 2015, according to the Associated Press. Traffic injuries, in general, are up a third. With more Americans are on the road, experts believe that a strengthening economy and lower gas prices are behind the increase, according to the AP.
Americans have driven 1.26 trillion miles in the first five months of 2015. That number is higher than the previous record of 1.23 trillion set in May 2007, according to the Christian Science Monitor.
If the trend continues, the U.S. could see its highest rate of traffic deaths since 2007, according to NBC News.
With the increase in traffic accidents comes an increased financial impact. The National Safety Council estimates that financial spending on traffic accidents has risen 24 percent to $152 billion in the first six months of the year, according to NBC News.
Through June, almost 19,000 people have died in traffic accidents, with July and August reaching historic highs for traffic deaths, according to the Christian Science Monitor.
The reason behind these crashes has changed dramatically, however. Deaths due to drunk driving have dropped from 50 percent to 30 percent, teen driving deaths are down, and seatbelt use is up. Cars are fitted with more safety technology than every before, according to the AP. Many states have also inputted laws cutting down on the kind of distracted driving that leads to many accidents such as cell phone use.
Even with this trend on the rise, highway traffic deaths are still down almost 40 percent from 40 years ago, according to NBC News.
