June 3 (UPI) -- Motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States rose to a 13-year high in 2020 despite a decrease in overall driving due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released Wednesday.
The Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that 38,680 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, a 7.2% increase from the 36,096 fatalities reported in 2019 and the largest projected number of fatalities since 2007.
The increase in fatalities comes despite preliminary Federal Highway Administration data showing that vehicle miles traveled decreased by about 430.2 billion miles, or 13.2% in 2020.
"Safety is the top priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Loss of life is unacceptable on our nation's roadways and everyone has a role to play in ensuring that they are safe. We intend to use all available tools to reverse these trends and reduce traffic fatalities and injuries," said Dr. Steven Cliff, the NHTSA's acting administrator.
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The fatality rate in 2020 was 1.37 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, up from 1.11 fatalities in 2019.
Impaired driving, speeding and failure to wear a seat belt were the main behaviors that led to the increase, according to the NHTSA.
Fatalities in crashes involving passenger vehicle occupants rose 5% to 23,395, fatalities in crashes involving motorcyclists rose by 5,015, or 9% and 846 more people on bikes were involved in fatal crashes a 5% increase.
The number of crashes involving pedestrians remained flat at 6,205 while fatalities involving a large truck fell 2% and fatalities among people older than 65 dropped 9%.
