Increased deaths among pedestrians and motorcyclists in 2024 propelled Nebraska to its highest number of traffic fatalities in 17 years, even as preliminary figures show a decline nationally.
The 251 deaths on Nebraska roadways in 2024 are nearly 10% more than the 227 recorded last year, according to the Nebraska Highway Safety Office in Lincoln. The 251 fatalities are also 7.2% above the five-year average of 234.6 from 2019 through 2023.
Omaha police investigate a fatal crash on Dodge Street between 62nd and 64th Streets on Sept. 4, 2024.
Omaha also saw a sharp increase in traffic fatalities overall with 58 in 2024, compared with 40 in 2023 and 45 in 2022. Lincoln, the state’s second-largest city, had just 12 traffic fatalities in 2024, according to a Lincoln Police Department spokesperson. That is one fewer death than in 2023 and eight fewer than the five-year high of 20 recorded in 2022.
Nebraska’s rise in traffic fatalities comes while preliminary information indicates that fatalities are down nationally. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic fatalities in the U.S. declined through the first nine months of 2024, an estimated 4.4% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
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“That is great for the nation, but we did not follow that trend,” said Bill Kovarik, administrator of the state safety office. “Drivers in Nebraska have not increased seat-belt use over 92% or decreased use of phones and other distractions like we are seeing in other states.”
Nebraska’s preliminary figures show that only 30% of the people killed on the roadways were wearing seat belts, Kovarik said.
Looking east toward the 72nd Street exit, traffic moves across Interstate 80 in Omaha on Nov. 19. Traffic deaths reached a 17-year high in Nebraska in 2024.
“That is unfortunately not much different than previous years, even though we would expect more people to wear belts since everyone know they can save your life,” he said. “Speeding, distracted driving and other choices drivers are making are increasingly causing fatalities. Driving behavior needs to change or this increasing trend will continue.”
Helmet use is down
Motorcycle deaths helped drive the total traffic fatality number higher in 2024.
“Motorcycle fatalities jumped back up to 32 (from 22 in 2023), very close to the five-year high of 34 from 2020, as no surprise with less riders wearing helmets,” Kovarik said. “Less than 70% (of riders) were wearing helmets, which is down from previous years, which started to decline in 2023.”
As of Jan. 1, 2024, motorcyclists were legally allowed to ride without helmets by meeting the following criteria: Age 21 years or older; wear eye protection while riding; successfully complete a basic motorcycle safety course.
“The helmet law is still current, there are just exceptions that make it nearly worthless and many riders stopped wearing helmets in 2023 in anticipation of these changes,” Kovarik said.
Nebraska’s 32 motorcycle deaths represent a 45% increase over 2023, when 22 motorcyclists died on the state’s roadways. They are also a 22% increase over the five-year average of 25.4.
Twelve of those motorcycle deaths occurred in Omaha. That compares with just five motorcycle fatalities in 2023 and nine in 2022, according to Sgt. Jason Menning of the Omaha Police Department’s traffic unit.
Pedestrian deaths also climbed
Pedestrian deaths were up in Omaha and the state as a whole. Of the 19 pedestrian deaths last year in Nebraska, 15 occurred in Omaha.
“Many are because drivers are not watching out for pedestrians, but many are because people get out of vehicles on the highway or walk where they should not,” Kovarik said.
A new study by a Charlotte, North Carolina, law firm found that Nebraska ranked eighth in the country for highest percentage of pedestrians killed in collisions at intersections. New York led the category followed by New Jersey and Minnesota.
The DeMayo Law Office analyzed data on fatal crashes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the years 2018 to 2022. The percentage of pedestrians killed at intersections each year was calculated, while the total percentage of deaths between 2018 and 2022 was used to rank the states from highest to lowest.
Omaha police investigate a crash that killed four people and injured two others on Sept. 27, 2024, near 10th and Douglas Streets. Rachel Bickerstaff, 33, is charged with four counts of DUI motor vehicle homicide.
Menning pointed to some familiar factors for the overall rise of traffic fatalities in the state’s largest city. He said high speeds, lack of seat-belt use, alcohol or drug impairment and inattention are the main causes of fatalities.
“Primary factors or causes of these crashes remain high speed — 20 mph or more above posted speed limit — no seat-belt use by the deceased person and failing to yield to oncoming vehicle, especially to oncoming motorcycles,” he said. “These have all been primary causes for several years.”
Fatalities from ATV crashes on roadways also spiked in 2024 with seven for the year. That is a 133% increase from the three recorded in 2023 and a whopping 192% increase over the five-year average of 2.4.
“Yes, this is drastic,” Kovarik said. “Again, (people make) a choice to drive ATVs (on roads) that they were not designed (to be driven) and at speeds that are unsafe.”
