Through the first half of 2023 traffic fatalities in Nebraska are down 18 percent compared to last year. “As of yesterday we were at 108 fatalities for the year and we were at 132 at this time last year,” says Bill Kovarik, Nebraska Highway Safety Administrator.
“The biggest drop we’re seeing is in rural fatalities. We’re currently at 75 rural fatalities and they we were at 90 last year,” Kovarik says. For the month of July, 14 people have been killed compared to 12 last July.
Kovarik is hopeful that the decrease in fatalities is due to people driving safer. “We’re hoping more people are wearing their seat belt, driving the speed limit and not looking at cellphones or other distractions while they’re driving.”