Motor vehicle fatality rate in U.S. by year
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/1994-_Motor_vehicle_traffic_deaths_in_road_accidents%2C_by_country.svg/220px-1994-_Motor_vehicle_traffic_deaths_in_road_accidents%2C_by_country.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/United_States_Motor_Vehicle_Deaths_per_Year.webp/290px-United_States_Motor_Vehicle_Deaths_per_Year.webp.png)
Fatalities that result from motor vehicle crashes are the second largest cause of accidental deaths in the United States.[3]
Motor vehicle fatalities in the United States are reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA only reports deaths that occur on public roads, and does not include parking lots, driveways, and private roads.[4] It also excludes indirect car-related fatalities. For more details, see Transportation safety in the United States.
From the beginning of recorded statistics until the 1970s, total traffic deaths in the United States generally trended upwards, except during the Great Depression and World War II. From 1979 to 2005, the number of deaths per year decreased 14.97% while the number of deaths per capita decreased by 35.46%. The 32,479 traffic fatalities in 2011 were the lowest in 62 years, since 1949.[5] For 2016, the NHTSA reported 37,461 people killed in 34,436 fatal motor vehicle crashes, an average of 102 per day.[6] In 2022, there were 42,795 total motor vehicle fatalities.[7]
By year
[edit]Year | Deaths | VMT– Vehicle miles traveled (billions) | Fatalities per 100 million VMT | Population | Fatalities per 100,000 population | Change in per capita fatalities from previous year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1899 | 26[8] | |||||
1900 | 36 | 76,094,000 | 0.05 | NA | ||
1901 | 54 | 77,584,000 | 0.07 | ![]() | ||
1902 | 79 | 79,163,000 | 0.10 | ![]() | ||
1903 | 117 | 80,632,000 | 0.15 | ![]() | ||
1904 | 172 | 82,166,000 | 0.21 | ![]() | ||
1905 | 252 | 83,822,000 | 0.30 | ![]() | ||
1906 | 338 | 85,450,000 | 0.40 | ![]() | ||
1907 | 581 | 87,008,000 | 0.67 | ![]() | ||
1908 | 751 | 88,710,000 | 0.85 | ![]() | ||
1909 | 1,174 | 90,490,000 | 1.30 | ![]() | ||
1910 | 1,599 | 92,407,000 | 1.73 | ![]() | ||
1911 | 2,043 | 93,863,000 | 2.18 | ![]() | ||
1912 | 2,968 | 95,335,000 | 3.11 | ![]() | ||
1913 | 4,079 | 97,225,000 | 4.20 | ![]() | ||
1914 | 4,468 | 99,111,000 | 4.51 | ![]() | ||
1915 | 6,779 | 100,546,000 | 6.74 | ![]() | ||
1916 | 7,766 | 101,961,000 | 7.62 | ![]() | ||
1917 | 9,630 | 103,268,000 | 9.33 | ![]() | ||
1918 | 10,390 | 103,208,000 | 10.07 | ![]() | ||
1919 | 10,896 | 104,514,000 | 10.42 | ![]() | ||
1920 | 12,155 | 106,461,000 | 11.42 | ![]() | ||
1921 | 13,253 | 55 | 24.09 | 108,538,000 | 12.21 | ![]() |
1922 | 14,859 | 67 | 21.95 | 110,049,000 | 13.50 | ![]() |
1923 | 17,870 | 85 | 21.03 | 111,947,000 | 15.96 | ![]() |
1924 | 18,400 | 104 | 17.55 | 114,109,000 | 16.13 | ![]() |
1925 | 20,771 | 122 | 16.98 | 115,829,000 | 17.93 | ![]() |
1926 | 22,194 | 140 | 15.77 | 117,397,000 | 18.91 | ![]() |
1927 | 24,470 | 158 | 15.44 | 119,035,000 | 20.56 | ![]() |
1928 | 26,557 | 172 | 15.36 | 120,509,000 | 22.04 | ![]() |
1929 | 29,592 | 197 | 14.97 | 121,767,000 | 24.30 | ![]() |
1930 | 31,204 | 206 | 15.12 | 123,076,741 | 25.35 | ![]() |
1931 | 31,963 | 216 | 14.79 | 124,039,648 | 25.77 | ![]() |
1932 | 27,979 | 200 | 13.95 | 124,840,471 | 22.41 | ![]() |
1933 | 29,746 | 200 | 14.83 | 125,578,763 | 23.69 | ![]() |
1934 | 34,240 | 215 | 15.88 | 126,373,773 | 27.09 | ![]() |
1935 | 34,494 | 228 | 15.09 | 127,250,232 | 27.11 | ![]() |
1936 | 36,126 | 252 | 14.33 | 128,053,180 | 28.21 | ![]() |
1937 | 37,819 | 270 | 14.00 | 128,824,829 | 29.36 | ![]() |
1938 | 31,083 | 271 | 11.46 | 129,824,939 | 23.94 | ![]() |
1939 | 30,895 | 285 | 10.83 | 130,879,718 | 23.61 | ![]() |
1940 | 32,914 | 302 | 10.89 | 132,122,446 | 24.91 | ![]() |
1941 | 38,142 | 333 | 11.43 | 133,402,471 | 28.59 | ![]() |
1942 | 27,007 | 268 | 10.07 | 134,859,553 | 20.03 | ![]() |
1943 | 22,727 | 208 | 10.92 | 136,739,353 | 16.62 | ![]() |
1944 | 23,165 | 212 | 10.89 | 138,397,345 | 16.74 | ![]() |
1945 | 26,785 | 250 | 10.71 | 139,928,165 | 19.14 | ![]() |
1946 | 31,874 | 340 | 9.35 | 141,388,566 | 22.54 | ![]() |
1947 | 31,193 | 370 | 8.41 | 144,126,071 | 21.64 | ![]() |
1948 | 30,775 | 397 | 7.73 | 146,631,302 | 21.00 | ![]() |
1949 | 30,246 | 424 | 7.13 | 149,188,130 | 20.27 | ![]() |
1950 | 33,186 | 458 | 7.24 | 152,271,417 | 21.79 | ![]() |
1951 | 35,309 | 491 | 7.19 | 154,877,889 | 22.80 | ![]() |
1952 | 36,088 | 513 | 7.03 | 157,552,740 | 22.91 | ![]() |
1953 | 36,190 | 544 | 6.65 | 160,184,192 | 22.59 | ![]() |
1954 | 33,890 | 561 | 6.03 | 163,025,854 | 20.79 | ![]() |
1955 | 36,688 | 605 | 6.06 | 165,931,202 | 22.11 | ![]() |
1956 | 37,965 | 627 | 6.05 | 168,903,031 | 22.48 | ![]() |
1957 | 36,932 | 647 | 5.71 | 171,984,130 | 21.47 | ![]() |
1958 | 35,331 | 664 | 5.32 | 174,881,904 | 20.20 | ![]() |
1959 | 36,223 | 700 | 5.17 | 177,829,628 | 20.37 | ![]() |
1960 | 36,399 | 718 | 5.06 | 180,671,158 | 20.15 | ![]() |
1961 | 36,285 | 737 | 4.92 | 183,691,481 | 19.75 | ![]() |
1962 | 38,980 | 766 | 5.08 | 186,537,737 | 20.90 | ![]() |
1963 | 41,723 | 805 | 5.18 | 189,241,798 | 22.05 | ![]() |
1964 | 45,645 | 846 | 5.39 | 191,888,791 | 23.79 | ![]() |
1965 | 47,089 | 887 | 5.30 | 194,302,963 | 24.24 | ![]() |
1966 | 50,894 | 925 | 5.50 | 196,560,338 | 25.89 | ![]() |
1967 | 50,724 | 964 | 5.26 | 198,712,056 | 25.53 | ![]() |
1968 | 52,725 | 1,015 | 5.19 | 200,706,052 | 26.27 | ![]() |
1969 | 53,543 | 1,061 | 5.04 | 202,676,946 | 26.42 | ![]() |
1970 | 52,627 | 1,109 | 4.74 | 205,052,174 | 25.67 | ![]() |
1971 | 52,542 | 1,178 | 4.46 | 207,660,677 | 25.30 | ![]() |
1972 | 54,589 | 1,259 | 4.33 | 209,896,021 | 26.01 | ![]() |
1973 | 54,052 | 1,313 | 4.12 | 211,908,788 | 25.51 | ![]() |
1974 | 45,196 | 1,280 | 3.53 | 213,853,928 | 21.13 | ![]() |
1975 | 44,525 | 1,327 | 3.35 | 215,973,199 | 20.62 | ![]() |
1976 | 45,523 | 1,402 | 3.25 | 218,035,164 | 20.88 | ![]() |
1977 | 47,878 | 1,467 | 3.26 | 220,239,425 | 21.74 | ![]() |
1978 | 50,331 | 1,544 | 3.26 | 222,584,545 | 22.61 | ![]() |
1979 | 51,093 | 1,529 | 3.34 | 225,055,487 | 22.70 | ![]() |
1980 | 51,091 | 1,527 | 3.35 | 227,224,681 | 22.48 | ![]() |
1981 | 49,301 | 1,552 | 3.18 | 229,465,714 | 21.49 | ![]() |
1982 | 43,945 | 1,595 | 2.76 | 231,664,458 | 18.97 | ![]() |
1983 | 42,589 | 1,652 | 2.58 | 233,791,994 | 18.22 | ![]() |
1984 | 44,257 | 1,720 | 2.57 | 235,824,902 | 18.77 | ![]() |
1985 | 43,825 | 1,774 | 2.47 | 237,923,795 | 18.42 | ![]() |
1986 | 46,087 | 1,834 | 2.51 | 240,132,887 | 19.19 | ![]() |
1987 | 46,390 | 1,921 | 2.42 | 242,288,918 | 19.15 | ![]() |
1988 | 47,087 | 2,025 | 2.32 | 244,498,982 | 19.26 | ![]() |
1989 | 45,582 | 2,096 | 2.17 | 246,819,230 | 18.47 | ![]() |
1990 | 44,599 | 2,144 | 2.08 | 249,464,396 | 17.88 | ![]() |
1991 | 41,508 | 2,172 | 1.91 | 252,153,092 | 16.46 | ![]() |
1992 | 39,250 | 2,247 | 1.75 | 255,029,699 | 15.39 | ![]() |
1993 | 40,150 | 2,296 | 1.75 | 257,782,608 | 15.58 | ![]() |
1994 | 40,716 | 2,358 | 1.73 | 260,327,021 | 15.64 | ![]() |
1995 | 41,817 | 2,423 | 1.73 | 262,803,276 | 15.91 | ![]() |
1996 | 42,065 | 2,486 | 1.69 | 265,228,572 | 15.86 | ![]() |
1997 | 42,013 | 2,562 | 1.64 | 267,783,607 | 15.69 | ![]() |
1998 | 41,501 | 2,632 | 1.58 | 270,248,003 | 15.36 | ![]() |
1999 | 41,717 | 2,691 | 1.55 | 272,690,813 | 15.30 | ![]() |
2000 | 41,945 | 2,747 | 1.53 | 282,216,952 | 14.86 | ![]() |
2001[9] | 42,196 | 2,797 | 1.51 | 285,226,284 | 14.79 | ![]() |
2002 | 43,005 | 2,856 | 1.51 | 288,125,973 | 14.93 | ![]() |
2003 | 42,884 | 2,890 | 1.48 | 290,796,023 | 14.75 | ![]() |
2004 | 42,836 | 2,965 | 1.44 | 293,638,158 | 14.59 | ![]() |
2005 | 43,510 | 2,989 | 1.46 | 296,507,061 | 14.67 | ![]() |
2006 | 42,708 | 3,014 | 1.42 | 299,398,484 | 14.27 | ![]() |
2007 | 41,259 | 3,031 | 1.36 | 301,139,947 | 13.70 | ![]() |
2008 | 37,423 | 2,977 | 1.26 | 303,824,640 | 12.32 | ![]() |
2009 | 33,883 | 2,957 | 1.15 | 306,700,000 | 11.05 | ![]() |
2010[9] | 32,999 | 2,967 | 1.11 | 309,326,000 | 10.67 | ![]() |
2011[10] | 32,479 | 2,950 | 1.10 | 311,588,000 | 10.42 | ![]() |
2012[11] | 33,782 | 2,969 | 1.14 | 313,914,000 | 10.75 | ![]() |
2013 | 32,893 | 2,988 | 1.10 | 316,129,000 | 10.40 | ![]() |
2014 | 32,744 | 3,026 | 1.08 | 318,860,000 | 10.28 | ![]() |
2015 | 35,485 | 3,095 | 1.15 | 321,370,000 | 11.06 | ![]() |
2016[12] | 37,806 | 3,174 | 1.19 | 323,121,000 | 11.59 | ![]() |
2017[12][13] | 37,473 | 3,213 | 1.16 | 326,213,213 | 11.40 | ![]() |
2018[13][14] | 36,835 | 3,223 | 1.13 | 327,096,265 | 11.18 | ![]() |
2019[15] | 36,355 | 3,248 | 1.10 | 328,231,337[16] | 10.99 | ![]() |
2020[17] | 38,824 | 2,904 | 1.34 | 331,449,281[18] | 11.67 | ![]() |
2021[19] | 43,230[20] | 3,230[21] | 1.38 | 332,915,073[22] | 13.02 | ![]() |
2022[23] | 42,514[20] | 3,196 | 1.35 | 338,289,857[24] | 12.76 | ![]() |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "OECD Data / Road Accidents". data.OECD.org. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023.
- ^ Leonhardt, David (11 December 2023). "The Rise in U.S. Traffic Deaths / What's behind America's unique problem with vehicle crashes?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Accidents or Unintentional Injuries". Centers for Disease Control. March 17, 2017.
- ^ "2016 traffic deaths jump to highest level in nearly a decade - SFGate". Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
- ^ "Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rates, 1899-2020" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-12-05.
- ^ "Quick Facts 2016". Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
- ^ "NHTSA Estimates for 2022 Show Roadway Fatalities Remain Flat After Two Years of Dramatic Increases | NHTSA".
- ^ "U.S. Highway Deaths Decline 2.9%, Falling for Fifth Year". Bloomberg. December 8, 2011. Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
- ^ a b 'Fatality Analysis Reporting System' 2010 Archived 2009-10-26 at the Wayback Machine, fars.NHTSA.dot.gov Retrieved July 3, 2014
- ^ 'Fatality Analysis Reporting System' 2011 Archived 2009-10-26 at the Wayback Machine, fars.NHTSA.dot.gov Retrieved July 3, 2014
- ^ "NHTSA Quick Facts 2014". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ a b National Highway Traffic Safety Administration National Center for Statistics and Analysis. "2017 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview". NHSTA Traffic Safety Facts. US Department of Transportation. DOT HS 812 603. Archived from the original on 2018-10-25. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
- ^ a b "2018 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "U.S. pedestrian, bicyclist deaths rise in 2018: report". Reuters. 2019-06-17. Archived from the original on 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
- ^ "NHTSA Releases 2019 Crash Fatality Data | NHTSA". Retrieved 2021-12-06.
- ^ "Census Bureau Projects U.S. And World Populations on New Year's Day".
- ^ "2020 Fatality Data Show Increased Traffic Fatalities During Pandemic | NHTSA".
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States". Archived from the original on 2019-12-30.
- ^ "NHTSA Data Estimates Indicate Traffic Fatalities Continued to Rise at Record Pace in First Nine Months of 2021 | NHTSA". www.nhtsa.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
- ^ a b "FARS Encyclopedia". www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ Shepardson, David; Disavino, Scott (2022-02-18). "U.S. driving soars in 2021 to 3.23 trillion miles, up 11.2%". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
- ^ "U.S. Population 1950-2022". www.macrotrends.net. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
- ^ "NHTSA Estimates for 2022 Show Roadway Fatalities Remain Flat After Two Years of Dramatic Increases | NHTSA".
- ^ "U.S. Population 1950-2022". www.macrotrends.net. Retrieved 2022-03-20.