The coronavirus was not the only major threat to Connecticut residents during 2020 ”“ new data from the National Highway Safety Administration and QuoteWizard determined that Connecticut ranked fifth among the states last year for the number of traffic-related fatalities.
The data recorded 310 traffic-related fatalities in 2020, up from the 254 recorded in 2019. Among its neighboring states, Rhode Island ranked fourth with a 25.9% year-over-year increase in traffic-related fatalities, while New York ranked 16th with a 10.9% spike and Massachusetts ranked 37th with a 1.5% uptick.
South Dakota had the most dangerous roads last year with a 33.3% rise in fatalities, while Hawaii was the safest with a 20.4% drop in deaths on its roadways; Hawaii was also one of nine states that recorded year-over-year declines in traffic-related fatalities.
The data also recorded 42,060 estimated traffic fatalities in 2020, compared with 39,107 in 2019, with an 11% increase in speeding-related deaths.
People between the ages of 25 and 34 saw the largest increase in traffic fatalities. Traffic fatalities among men and Blacks increased by 9% and 23.1%, respectively.
