Spotlight on Highway Safety

Young drivers are nearly four times more likely to be involved in a fatal traffic crash than their older counterparts, but a GHSA report confirms that crash and fatality rates for drivers under 21 have improved drastically over the past two decades – more so than for other drivers. The report includes an analysis of Fatality Analysis Reporting System data for 2002-2021, identifies the policies and programs responsible for the gains in teen driver safety and makes recommendations for building upon that success.

GHSA's annual spotlight report, Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2021 Preliminary Data, offers a comprehensive look at state and national trends in pedestrian deaths for 2021.

GHSA's Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2020 Preliminary Data and subsequent addendum offer the first comprehensive look at state and national trends in pedestrian deaths for the full year (January-December). The report projects the U.S.

GHSA's annual spotlight report, Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2019 Preliminary Data, offers a first look at state and national trends in 2019 pedestrian deaths. The report projects 6,590 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roads in 2019, the highest number in more than 30 years.

GHSA's new spotlight report, Rear Seat Belt Use: Little Change in Four Years, Much More to Do, explores adult rear seat belt use rates, state laws and enforcement, and public education efforts.

GHSA's Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2018 Preliminary Data projects 6,227 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roads in 2018, the highest number in nearly three decades.

GHSA's latest spotlight report, Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State: 2017 Preliminary Data, projects a 5.6% decrease in motorcyclist fatalities in 2017. Despite this decline, the report finds that motorcyclists remain significantly overrepresented as a proportion of all traffic deaths.

GHSA's annual Spotlight on Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities projects nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017.

GHSA's annual Spotlight on Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities projects an 11% increase in the number of persons on foot killed on U.S. roadways in 2016.

As autonomous vehicles (AVs) merge into our nation’s traffic, the most pressing safety challenge for states will be preparing human drivers. GHSA's first Spotlight on Highway Safety covering AVs examines the implications of new vehicle technologies for highway safety agencies and advocates.