Listen: Nation’s Capital Cuts Traffic Deaths as Rates Rise Across US

By Chaseedaw Giles December 3, 2025

A hit-and-run driver killed Erika “Tilly” Edwards as she walked to her car after a fundraiser performance in Los Angeles’ Hollywood neighborhood in June. Despite safety campaigns, U.S. traffic deaths are up 20% from a decade ago, according to the Department of Transportation. (Chaseedaw Giles/KFF Health News)

LISTEN: Distracted. Reckless. Drunk. Americans’ driving has gotten more dangerous since the covid pandemic. Chaseedaw Giles appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” on Nov. 26 to share her reporting on that deadly trend.

This story also ran on WAMU. It can be republished for free.

Traffic deaths have climbed nationwide over the past decade. In some major cities, traffic deaths have surpassed homicides. But this year, Washington, D.C., has recorded a significant drop in these kinds of deaths. Chaseedaw Giles, audience engagement editor with KFF Health News, appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” on Nov. 26 to share her reporting on the ways design and better enforcement can contribute to safer streets.

A photo of a husband and wife on a refrigerator magnet.

‘They Don’t Return Home’: Cities Across US Fail To Curb Traffic Deaths

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston reported more traffic fatalities than homicides last year. Despite local, state, and federal safety initiatives, such as Vision Zero, traffic deaths across the U.S. are higher than they were a decade ago.

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Listen: Nation’s Capital Cuts Traffic Deaths as Rates Rise Across US

By Chaseedaw Giles December 3, 2025

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<h1>Listen: Nation’s Capital Cuts Traffic Deaths as Rates Rise Across US</h1>
	<span class="byline">Chaseedaw Giles</span>

<p>LISTEN: Distracted. Reckless. Drunk. Americans’ driving has gotten <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/11/20/what-the-data-says-about-dangerous-driving-and-road-rage-in-the-us/">more dangerous</a> since the covid pandemic. Chaseedaw Giles appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” on Nov. 26 to share her reporting on that deadly trend.</p>

<p><a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/traffic-deaths-pedestrian-safety-vision-zero-los-angeles-dot-nhtsa/">Traffic deaths have climbed nationwide</a> over the past decade. In some major cities, traffic deaths have <a href="https://xtown.la/2025/01/27/traffic-deaths-in-los-angeles-exceed-murder-total-for-second-consecutive-year/">surpassed homicides</a>. But this year, Washington, D.C., has recorded a <a href="https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/traffic-data">significant drop</a> in these kinds of deaths. Chaseedaw Giles, audience engagement editor with KFF Health News, appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” on Nov. 26 to share her reporting on the ways design and better enforcement can contribute to safer streets.</p>

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