NDOT Releases Fatality Numbers and Urges Caution
July 15, 2024 (Lincoln, Neb.) — During the month of June 2024, nineteen people were killed in traffic crashes on Nebraska roadways, according to data collected by the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
¨ These 19 fatalities occurred in 18 fatal crashes.
¨ Six of the twelve vehicle occupants killed were not using seatbelts, six were using a seatbelt, and zero had seatbelt usage marked as unknown.
¨ Nine of the fatalities were in rural locations*.
¨ There was one fatality on the interstate, eleven on other highways, and seven on local roads.
¨ Two of the fatalities were pedestrians.
¨ Four of the fatalities were motorcyclists.
¨ One fatality was driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
¨ One of the fatalities was a bicyclist.
There were 17 fatalities in June of 2023.
Only 23 of the 93 vehicle occupants killed during 2024 were using seatbelts.
* The Federal Highway Administration definition for urban is an area with a population of 5,000 or more.
This report includes information available through July 14, 2024 from the Highway Safety Section, Traffic Engineering Division, Nebraska Department of Transportation. For additional information, contact NDOT Communication and Public Policy Division at (402) 479‑4512.
Nebraska’s Transportation Leaders Call For Action: Drivers Must Do Better
As we approach the height of summer travel, it's important to reflect on the responsibility we carry every time we get behind the wheel. Summer break is a time for family, fun, and festivities, but it is also a period that historically sees an increase in road incidents. In Nebraska, this reality is compounded by some troubling statistics concerning increases in speeding and distracted driving, coupled with dangerously low seatbelt usage.
During the two-week "Make It Click" campaign in May and June of this year, the Nebraska State Patrol reported 955 citations for speeding, including 43 for driving at 100 MPH or more. Again, last week, the Nebraska State Patrol clocked a motorist traveling 130 MPH in a 65 MPH construction zone. Additionally, while Nebraska law prohibits the use of a handheld wireless device to read, write, or send communication while operating a motor vehicle, NDOT’s Highway Safety Office reported that in 2023, 3,405 drivers were involved in distracted driving crashes, including 629 that were cellphone related. And currently, 35 states have primary enforcement for seatbelt violations, in Nebraska it is a secondary offense, ultimately impacting our usage rate of 77.3 percent, one of the lowest in the country.
These behaviors translate into dangerous and potentially deadly situations. We can and must do better as a state and as individuals. The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is committed to ensuring the safety of all road users, but we need every driver to take this commitment seriously. Recently, a serious incident occurred in north-central Nebraska where an NDOT road worker was injured due to the inattention of a motorist in a work zone. The driver failed to slow at signs despite the work zone being marked, leading to a devastating and preventable crash. This incident is the third, in under a year in which a road worker was severely injured or killed, and highlights the severe consequences of poor decision-making and the need for vigilance on the road. The harm caused by this driver's actions serves as a stark reminder of the importance of paying attention while driving.
At NDOT, we are committed to continually enhancing the safety of our roadways through engineering practices and education to influence driver behavior. The implementation of advanced warning signs, automatic flagging devices and other traffic control measures in construction zones provide extra protection but only do so much when matched with distracted driving.
Every decision we make behind the wheel can save lives or take them. It is crucial we all take personal responsibility— wear your seat belt, adhere to speed limits, and put away distractions. Let’s honor the dedication of our road construction teams and protect our fellow Nebraskans by committing to safe, responsible driving. It’s not just about following laws; it’s about fostering a culture of care and consideration on our roads. Together, we can have safer Nebraska roads.
Vicki Kramer, Director Nebraska Department of Transportation
Colonel John Bolduc Nebraska State Patrol
Bryan Tuma, Executive Director Nebraska Crime Commission
Ronda Lahm, Director Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
