VIDEO: Traffic crash deaths on the rise

(NBC) - Traffic deaths were 7 percent higher compared to the first quarter of 2021 and last year's auto deaths were already at a 15 year high.

The number of fatal traffic accidents continue to climb in the U.S.

Deaths from car crashes in the first few months of this year hit the highest quarterly total since 2002.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced last week that traffic deaths were 7 percent higher compared to the first quarter of 2021 and last year's auto deaths were already at a 15 year high.

Could the pandemic be playing a part in the increase.

Experts point out that before the pandemic began, the number of fatal car crashes saw a steady decline for three years leading up to 2020.

But then the number began to rise even though people were driving less and in 2022, traffic deaths jumped 22 percent in the first quarter compared to 2019.

David Harkey, the President of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has said that risky driving behaviors "were exacerbated during the pandemic and they seem to have this hangover effect that's now occurring."

A 2020 survey from the AAA foundation for traffic safety found that people who drove more than usual during the pandemic were more likely to engage in riskier behaviors, including reading text messages, speeding, running red lights on purpose, aggressively changing lanes, not wearing seat belts or driving after having consumed alcohol or cannabis.

Deaths from speeding-related crashes increased by 17 percent and deaths from alcohol-impaired driving rose by 14 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.

In an effort to combat the rising death rate, the transportation department set up a 5 billion dollar program this year to precent roadway deaths and injuries by offering grants for projects that lower speed limit or improve road design.