State Police Respond to Surge in NH Traffic Fatalities | Burns, Bryant, Cox, Rockefeller & Durkin, P.A.

State safety officials in New Hampshire are calling for increased awareness on the state’s roadways following a troubling surge in fatal car accidents. Between July 12 and July 15, ten individuals lost their lives in nine separate crashes scattered across various locations, including Concord, Belmont, Alton, Center Conway, Loudon, Jaffrey, Gilford, and Hampton Falls. As of July 15, state records indicate that 64 traffic fatalities occurred on New Hampshire roads this year. This marks an increase from the 58 fatalities recorded at the same time last year.

How is New Hampshire law enforcement reacting to the rise in traffic fatalities?

This spike in crashes has alarmed law enforcement agencies, who are currently investigating each incident. New Hampshire State Police Lt. Christopher Storm expressed concern over the unusual frequency of these serious crashes.

“It's not a specific roadway or type of roadway, or a particular type of vehicle. So I can't say that there's any specific thing that's leading to all of these,” said Storm.

In response to the recent fatalities, the New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety is urging drivers throughout the state to reassess their driving habits. The focus is on maintaining safe speeds, staying alert behind the wheel, and avoiding impaired driving.

To further combat dangerous driving behaviors, the state has allocated additional resources for enforcement patrols. New Hampshire State Police have increased their presence on major highways and interstates to deter reckless driving.

Lt. Storm stressed the importance of collective responsibility in preventing future tragedies. “Every one of these crashes is preventable,” he said. “So we just want to make sure that people are just doing everything that they can do to help prevent these crashes as well.”

What causes traffic fatalities?

The leading causes of traffic fatalities include:

Speeding: In 2022, speeding was a factor in 12,151 deaths nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Drunk driving: The NHTSA reports that drunk driving resulted in 13,524 traffic fatalities in 2022.
Distracted driving: According to the NHTSA, distracted driving resulted in 3,308 deaths in 2022.
Drowsy driving: Drowsy driving was responsible for approximately 693 fatalities in 2022, according to the NHTSA.

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