Traffic Fatalities Increase In Massachusetts

Despite a downward trend across the nation, traffic fatalities were up last year in Massachusetts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 368 people were killed in crashes across the commonwealth, a more than seven-percent increase from 2023.

Triple-A Northeast says the rise in fatal crashes could be due to increased traffic volume along with issues like distracted driving, speeding, and alcohol.

In Rhode Island, fatalities are down by 25 percent last year as compared to 2023.

There were 314 traffic fatalities in Connecticut.

However, the number of traffic fatalities nationwide last year was under 40-thousand for the first time since 2020.

(Photo by Darren McCollester/Newsmakers)