January Traffic Deaths Higher Than Average–Six Blamed On Icy Roads
February 17, 2021 (Lincoln, Neb.) — During the month of January 2021, twenty-three people were killed in traffic crashes on Nebraska streets and roads, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
¨ The 23 fatalities occurred in 16 fatal crashes.
¨ Six of the twenty-three vehicle occupants killed were not using seatbelts, five were using seatbelts, and twelve had seatbelt usage marked as “unknown”.
¨ Eighteen of the fatalities were in rural locations.
¨ There were five fatalities on the interstate, fourteen on other highways, and four on local roads.
¨ Icy roads were a contributing factor in four fatality crashes resulting in six fatalities.
¨ Two of the fatalities were age 15 & younger.
¨ Distraction: manually operating a mobile phone was a contributing factor in one of the fatality crashes.
COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEARS
JANUARY | FATALITIES | FATAL CRASHES | % CHANGE v. 2021
(FATALITIES) |
2021 | 23 | 16 | |
2020 | 16 | 16 | -30.0 |
2019 | 8 | 8 | -65.0 |
2018 | 15 | 13 | -35.0 |
2017 | 21 | 20 | -9.0 |
2017-2020 Avg. | 15 | 14 | -35.0 |
- There were 16 fatalities in January of 2020.
- Only 5 of the 23 vehicle occupants killed during 2021 were using seatbelts.
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