North Dakota Records Fewer than 100 Traffic Deaths in 2019

North Dakota apparently ended 2019 with fewer than 100 traffic deaths, officials said.

According to preliminary reports, North Dakota had 98 motor vehicle fatalities in 2019. If that number remains unchanged, it would be the first time in 17 years that North Dakota recorded fewer than 100 traffic deaths in a year.

Gov. Doug Burgum thanked state agencies involved in the Vision Zero traffic safety initiative. Since the initiative was launched in 2018, North Dakota has seen traffic deaths decline year-to-year, from 116 in 2017 to 105 in 2018 to a preliminary total of 98 in 2019.

The last time North Dakota recorded fewer than 100 traffic deaths in a year was 2002, when 97 were recorded.

It will take up to 30 days to finalize the 2019 total as crash reports and investigations are completed.