Road casualties on the rise for seventh consecutive quarter

Road deaths in the US grew 7% in the first quarter of 2022 over a year earlier, making it the seventh straight quarter with increased traffic fatalities.

According to the data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 9,500 people died in car crashes during the said quarter, a steady increase from 8,935 deaths recorded last year.

The total driving rate across the country also increased in the January-March quarter by 5.9%—about 40.2 billion miles.

The government blames the rise in speeding, and reckless driving for the shocking increase in casualty rate, with safety advocates stressing stricter safety regulations.