Traffic deaths jump by most since 1966

Traffic fatalities increased in 2015 by an amount not seen in 50 years. Texas, which has the deadliest highways in the country, remained largely unchanged.

The National Safety Council on Wednesday announced preliminary analysis showed 38,300 roadway deaths in the U.S. last year. That was an increase of 8% from 2014, the highest year-to-year since 1966.

Texas led the nation with 3,490 deaths on roads and highways. Despite California having roughly 12 million more residents, it had 240 fewer traffic deaths.

Texas’ fatality trend was stable. The number of deaths increased 1% from 2014 to 2015 and 4% from 2013 to 2015.

The report notes a recent push in Houston to improve traffic safety. Houston had more roadway deaths than New York, which is roughly four times Houston’s size.

Houston’s economic growth has meant more vehicles on the road, the local analysis concluded, and a corresponding jump in traffic fatalities.

The same conclusion was painted by the National Safety Council report. As vehicle miles traveled have increased in the U.S. and gasoline prices dropped, roadway deaths increased.

The National Safety Council data is different from fatality reports analyzed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration because NHTSA considers fatalities within 30 days of the roadway crash, while the safety council logs all deaths within one year of the incident.

Though drivers log more total miles on urban roads and freeways, nearly half the increase in traffic deaths occurred on rural roads.

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