The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that compared to the same period last year, the number of traffic fatalities decreased by 3.3% in the first half of this year.

In the first half of 2023, the agency predicted that 19,515 persons perished in motor vehicle traffic accidents. 20.190 people died in the first half of 2022.

In the first and second quarters of 2023, fatalities decreased. This is the fifth consecutive quarter that the number has decreased.

The NHTSA projects that there was a decrease in fatalities in 29 states, while increases are expected in 21 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

Although the number of traffic deaths has continued to drop since the pandemic’s peak, a lot more work has to be done, according to NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is tackling traffic safety in a variety of ways, including new rulemakings for life-saving car technologies and greater financing from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act for state highway safety offices. To achieve our shared objective of no deaths, we will keep collaborating with our safety partners.

Government officials referred to the 42,795 fatalities on American roads last year as a national calamity.

Nearly 50 firms and NGOs made millions of dollars in pledges for projects to reduce traffic fatalities earlier this year, including the ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft, the industrial behemoth 3M, and the manufacturer Honda.

In order to reduce traffic fatalities, the Biden administration directed $5 billion in federal funding to towns and localities in 2022. This funding was used to slow down cars, build bike lanes and wider sidewalks, and encourage commuters to use public transportation.