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US awards $1 billion for roadway security jobs as traffic deaths remain high

The U.S. Transport Department said on Thursday it is awarding $1 billion for a. series of tasks aimed at minimizing traffic crashes, as road. deaths stay dramatically greater than prepandemic levels.

The department separately on Thursday approximated that 18,720. individuals died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first six. months of 2024, down 3.2% over 19,330 deaths in the very first half. of 2023.

While traffic deaths have declined for nine straight. quarters, they remain greatly greater than prepandemic levels,. when just over 17,000 people were killed in the very first half of. 2019.

Amongst the 350 new awards that become part of a $5 billion,. five-year program moneyed by the $1 trillion 2021 facilities. law is $29.8 million for Los Angeles to implement safety. enhancements at 77 intersections, mainly near schools and. commercial locations.

Numerous tasks are targeted at making it safer for pedestrians. and bicyclists including $10 million for Savannah, Georgia to. upgrade 15 crossways including devoted left turns,. sidewalks, crosswalks, and extended bicycle lanes. A more $20. million is earmarked for Chicago to increase safety efforts in the. North Avenue passage.

Traffic deaths surged after the start of COVID-19 and remain. elevated. The fatality rate in early 2024 fell but still was. greater for the three-month duration in any pre-pandemic year considering that. 2008.

As U.S. roadways ended up being less crowded throughout the COVID-19. pandemic, some vehicle drivers viewed cops as less likely to. issue tickets, experts said, leading to riskier behavior on. the roads.

U.S. traffic deaths leapt 10.5% in 2021 to 42,915, the. highest number killed on American roadways in a single year because. 2005.

In 2022, the number of pedestrians killed increased 0.7% to. 7,522, the most given that 1981. The variety of cyclists killed increased. 13% to 1,105 in 2022, the most considering that at least 1980.

(source: Reuters)