Jump to detailed statistics - Month, Fatalities, In-vehicle casualties (excluding uninjured bus occupants), Non-vehicle casualties (including pedestrians).
How is the US doing?
Overview
Reducing motor vehicle crash deaths was one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century for the US. However, more than 32,000 people are killed and 2 million are injured each year from motor vehicle crashes. In 2013, the US crash death rate was more than twice the average of other high-income countries. In the US, front seat belt use was lower than in most other comparison countries. One in 3 crash deaths in the US involved drunk driving, and almost 1 in 3 involved speeding. Lower death rates in other high-income countries and a high percentage of risk factors in the US suggest that we can make more progress in reducing crash deaths.
Drivers and passengers can:
- Use a seat belt in every seat, on every trip, no matter how short.
- Make sure children are always properly buckled in the back seat in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt, whichever is appropriate for their age, height, and weight.
- Choose not to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and help others do the same.
- Obey speed limits.
- Drive without distractions (such as using a cell phone or texting).
About 90 people die each day in the US from crashes— resulting in the highest death rate among comparison countries.*
US crash deaths fell 31% compared to an average 56% in 19 other high—income countries* from 2000-2013.
Over 18,000 lives could be saved each year if US crash deaths equaled the average rate of 19 other high—income countries.*
*Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Motor vehicle crash deaths in the US are still too high.
There were more than 32,000 crash deaths in the US in 2013. These deaths cost more than $380 million in direct medical costs.
Major risk factors for crash deaths in the US.
- Not using seat belts, car seats, and booster seats contributed to over 9,500 crash deaths.
- Drunk driving contributed to more than 10,000 crash deaths.
- Speeding contributed to more than 9,500 crash deaths.
Reducing major risk factors could save thousands of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars in direct medical costs each year.
Seat belts saved over 12,500 lives in the US in 2013, yet:
- The US had lower-than-average front and back seat belt use compared with other high-income countries.
- About half of drivers or passengers who died in crashes in the US weren’t buckled up.
Some proven measures of best performing high-income countries.
Even when considering population size, miles traveled, and number of registered vehicles, the US consistently ranked poorly relative to other high-income countries for crash deaths. Some of the best performing countries:
- Have policies in line with best practices, including those that address:
- Primary enforcement of seat belt laws that cover everyone in every seat.
- Police officers can stop a vehicle and write a ticket for anyone not buckled up.
- Requirements for car seats and booster seats for child passengers through at least age 8.
- Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels.
- US, Canada and the United Kingdom define drunk driving as BAC levels at 0.08% or above; all other comparison countries use lower BAC levels (0.02-0.05%).
- Primary enforcement of seat belt laws that cover everyone in every seat.
- Use advanced engineering and technology, such as:
- Ignition interlocks for all people convicted of drunk driving.
- This device keeps the vehicle from starting unless the driver has a BAC below a pre-set low limit.
- Automated enforcement, for example, speed and red light cameras.
- Improvements in vehicle safety and transportation infrastructure.
- Ignition interlocks for all people convicted of drunk driving.
- Implement proven measures, such as:
- More use of publicized sobriety checkpoints.
- Maintain and enforce the minimum legal drinking age.
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The Federal government is
- Tracking the nation’s progress in reducing crash injuries and deaths.
www.cdc.gov/psr/national-summary/mvi.html - Evaluating and encouraging the use of proven programs and policies.
www.thecommunityguide.org/mvoi/index.htmlExternal
www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/812239_Countermeasures_8thEd_TT.pdfCdc-pdfExternal - Collaborating with and providing guidance, resources, and tools for motor vehicle injury prevention to state, local, tribal, and federal partners.
www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/
Drivers and passengers can
- Use a seat belt in every seat, on every trip, no matter how short.
- Make sure children are always properly buckled in the back seat in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt, whichever is appropriate for their age, height, and weight.
- Choose not to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and help others do the same.
- Obey speed limits.
- Drive without distractions (such as using a cell phone or texting).
States can
- Increase seat belt use with primary enforcement seat belt laws that cover everyone in the vehicle.
www.cdc.gov/psr/national-summary/mvi.html - Consider requiring car seats and booster seats for children through at least age 8 or until seat belts fit properly.
www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbelts/states.html - Reduce drunk driving by:
- Expanding publicized sobriety checkpoints.
www.thecommunityguide.org/mvoi/AID/sobrietyckpts.htmlExternal - Enforcing existing 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws and minimum legal drinking age laws.
www.thecommunityguide.org/mvoi/AID/mlda-laws.htmlExternal - Considering ignition interlock requirements for people convicted of drinking and driving, starting with their first offense.
www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/ignition_interlock_states.html
- Expanding publicized sobriety checkpoints.
- Support traffic safety laws with media campaigns and visible police presence to increase restraint use and decrease impaired driving and speeding.
- Consult CDC’s Motor Vehicle Prioritizing Interventions and Cost Calculator for States (MV PICCS) to find out the cost of implementing up to 14 interventions and the number of injuries prevented and lives saved.
www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/calculator/index.html - Consider implementing Vision Zero—a road safety approach that considers death and severe injuries on our roads unacceptable and preventable.
www.visionzeroinitiative.comExternal
Health care providers can
- Give patients resources about motor vehicle safety and remind them how important it is to use a seat belt on every trip.
- Counsel parents and caregivers on using age and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, and seat belts on every trip.
www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/Child_Passenger_Safety/index.html - Talk to patients about the dangers of impaired driving and help identify counseling options as needed.
- Provide parents and caregivers of teens with resources on safe teen driving.
www.cdc.gov/parentsarethekey/peds/index.html
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- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ExternalExternal
Annual US traffic fatalities per billion vehicle miles traveled (red), miles traveled (blue), per one million people (orange), total annual deaths (light blue), VMT in 10s of billions (dark blue) and population in millions (teal), from 1921 to 2017
The table below shows the motor vehicle fatality rate in the United States by year from 1899 through 2017.
For 2016 specifically, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows 37,461 people were killed in 34,436 motor vehiclecrashes, an average of 102 per day.[1]
In 2010, there were an estimated 5,419,000 crashes, 30,296 deadly, killing 32,999, and injuring 2,239,000.[2] About 2,000 children under 16 die every year in traffic collisions.[3] Records indicate that there were 3,613,732 motor vehicle fatalities in the United States from 1899 to 2013.
Although the number of deaths, and deaths relative to the total US population, declined over most of the previous two decades, the trend reversed in 2015 and continued to move upward in 2016.[needs update] 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. US motor death statistics reported by government only include those on public roads, and do not include parking lots, driveways, and private roads.[4]
Motor vehicle deaths in U.S. 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[5] | |||||
1900 | 36 | 76,094,000 | 0.047 | NA | ||
1901 | 54 | 77,584,000 | 0.070 | 47.12% | ||
1902 | 79 | 79,163,000 | 0.100 | 43.38% | ||
1903 | 117 | 80,632,000 | 0.145 | 45.40% | ||
1904 | 172 | 82,166,000 | 0.209 | 44.26% | ||
1905 | 252 | 83,822,000 | 0.301 | 43.62% | ||
1906 | 338 | 85,450,000 | 0.396 | 31.57% | ||
1907 | 581 | 87,008,000 | 0.668 | 68.82% | ||
1908 | 751 | 88,710,000 | 0.847 | 26.78% | ||
1909 | 1,174 | 90,490,000 | 1.297 | 53.25% | ||
1910 | 1,599 | 92,407,000 | 1.730 | 33.38% | ||
1911 | 2,043 | 93,863,000 | 2.177 | 25.79% | ||
1912 | 2,968 | 95,335,000 | 3.113 | 43.03% | ||
1913 | 4,079 | 97,225,000 | 4.195 | 34.76% | ||
1914 | 4,468 | 99,111,000 | 4.508 | 7.45% | ||
1915 | 6,779 | 100,546,000 | 6.742 | 49.56% | ||
1916 | 7,766 | 101,961,000 | 7.617 | 12.97% | ||
1917 | 9,630 | 103,268,000 | 9.325 | 22.43% | ||
1918 | 10,390 | 103,208,000 | 10.067 | 7.95% | ||
1919 | 10,896 | 104,514,000 | 10.425 | 3.56% | ||
1920 | 12,155 | 106,461,000 | 11.417 | 9.51% | ||
1921 | 13,253 | 55 | 24.09 | 108,538,000 | 12.210 | 6.95% |
1922 | 14,859 | 67 | 21.95 | 110,049,000 | 13.502 | 10.58% |
1923 | 17,870 | 85 | 21.03 | 111,947,000 | 15.963 | 18.22% |
1924 | 18,400 | 104 | 17.55 | 114,109,000 | 16.125 | 1.01% |
1925 | 20,771 | 122 | 16.98 | 115,829,000 | 17.932 | 11.21% |
1926 | 22,194 | 140 | 15.77 | 117,397,000 | 18.905 | 5.42% |
1927 | 24,470 | 158 | 15.44 | 119,035,000 | 20.557 | 8.74% |
1928 | 26,557 | 172 | 15.36 | 120,509,000 | 22.037 | 7.20% |
1929 | 29,592 | 197 | 14.97 | 121,767,000 | 24.302 | 10.28% |
1930 | 31,204 | 206 | 15.12 | 123,076,741 | 25.353 | 4.33% |
1931 | 31,963 | 216 | 14.79 | 124,039,648 | 25.768 | 1.64% |
1932 | 27,979 | 200 | 13.95 | 124,840,471 | 22.412 | -13.03% |
1933 | 29,746 | 200 | 14.83 | 125,578,763 | 23.687 | 5.69% |
1934 | 34,240 | 215 | 15.88 | 126,373,773 | 27.094 | 14.38% |
1935 | 34,494 | 228 | 15.09 | 127,250,232 | 27.107 | 0.05% |
1936 | 36,126 | 252 | 14.33 | 128,053,180 | 28.212 | 4.07% |
1937 | 37,819 | 270 | 14.00 | 128,824,829 | 29.357 | 4.06% |
1938 | 31,083 | 271 | 11.46 | 129,824,939 | 23.942 | -18.44% |
1939 | 30,895 | 285 | 10.83 | 130,879,718 | 23.606 | -1.41% |
1940 | 32,914 | 302 | 10.89 | 132,122,446 | 24.912 | 5.53% |
1941 | 38,142 | 333 | 11.43 | 133,402,471 | 28.592 | 14.77% |
1942 | 27,007 | 268 | 10.07 | 134,859,553 | 20.026 | -29.96% |
1943 | 22,727 | 208 | 10.92 | 136,739,353 | 16.621 | -17.00% |
1944 | 23,165 | 212 | 10.89 | 138,397,345 | 16.738 | 0.71% |
1945 | 26,785 | 250 | 10.71 | 139,928,165 | 19.142 | 14.36% |
1946 | 31,874 | 340 | 9.35 | 141,388,566 | 22.544 | 17.77% |
1947 | 31,193 | 370 | 8.41 | 144,126,071 | 21.643 | -4.00% |
1948 | 30,775 | 397 | 7.73 | 146,631,302 | 20.988 | -3.03% |
1949 | 30,246 | 424 | 7.13 | 149,188,130 | 20.274 | -3.40% |
1950 | 33,186 | 458 | 7.24 | 152,271,417 | 21.794 | 7.50% |
1951 | 35,309 | 491 | 7.19 | 154,877,889 | 22.798 | 4.61% |
1952 | 36,088 | 513 | 7.03 | 157,552,740 | 22.905 | 0.47% |
1953 | 36,190 | 544 | 6.65 | 160,184,192 | 22.593 | -1.36% |
1954 | 33,890 | 561 | 6.03 | 163,025,854 | 20.788 | -7.99% |
1955 | 36,688 | 605 | 6.06 | 165,931,202 | 22.110 | 6.36% |
1956 | 37,965 | 627 | 6.05 | 168,903,031 | 22.477 | 1.66% |
1957 | 36,932 | 647 | 5.71 | 171,984,130 | 21.474 | -4.46% |
1958 | 35,331 | 664 | 5.32 | 174,881,904 | 20.203 | -5.92% |
1959 | 36,223 | 700 | 5.17 | 177,829,628 | 20.369 | 0.83% |
1960 | 36,399 | 718 | 5.06 | 180,671,158 | 20.147 | -1.09% |
1961 | 36,285 | 737 | 4.92 | 183,691,481 | 19.753 | -1.95% |
1962 | 38,980 | 766 | 5.08 | 186,537,737 | 20.897 | 5.79% |
1963 | 41,723 | 805 | 5.18 | 189,241,798 | 22.047 | 5.51% |
1964 | 45,645 | 846 | 5.39 | 191,888,791 | 23.787 | 7.89% |
1965 | 47,089 | 887 | 5.30 | 194,302,963 | 24.235 | 1.88% |
1966 | 50,894 | 925 | 5.50 | 196,560,338 | 25.892 | 6.84% |
1967 | 50,724 | 964 | 5.26 | 198,712,056 | 25.526 | -1.41% |
1968 | 52,725 | 1,015 | 5.19 | 200,706,052 | 26.270 | 2.91% |
1969 | 53,543 | 1,061 | 5.04 | 202,676,946 | 26.418 | 0.56% |
1970 | 52,627 | 1,109 | 4.74 | 205,052,174 | 25.665 | -2.85% |
1971 | 52,542 | 1,178 | 4.46 | 207,660,677 | 25.302 | -1.42 |
1972 | 54,589 | 1,259 | 4.33 | 209,896,021 | 26.008 | 2.79% |
1973 | 54,052 | 1,313 | 4.12 | 211,908,788 | 25.507 | -1.92% |
1974 | 45,196 | 1,280 | 3.53 | 213,853,928 | 21.134 | -17.14% |
1975 | 44,525 | 1,327 | 3.35 | 215,973,199 | 20.616 | -2.45% |
1976 | 45,523 | 1,402 | 3.25 | 218,035,164 | 20.879 | 1.27% |
1977 | 47,878 | 1,467 | 3.26 | 220,239,425 | 21.739 | 4.12% |
1978 | 50,331 | 1,544 | 3.26 | 222,584,545 | 22.612 | 4.02% |
1979 | 51,093 | 1,529 | 3.34 | 225,055,487 | 22.702 | 0.40% |
1980 | 51,091 | 1,527 | 3.35 | 227,224,681 | 22.485 | -0.96% |
1981 | 49,301 | 1,552 | 3.18 | 229,465,714 | 21.485 | -4.45% |
1982 | 43,945 | 1,595 | 2.76 | 231,664,458 | 18.969 | -11.71% |
1983 | 42,589 | 1,652 | 2.58 | 233,791,994 | 18.217 | -3.97% |
1984 | 44,257 | 1,720 | 2.57 | 235,824,902 | 18.767 | 3.02% |
1985 | 43,825 | 1,774 | 2.47 | 237,923,795 | 18.420 | -1.85% |
1986 | 46,087 | 1,834 | 2.51 | 240,132,887 | 19.192 | 4.19% |
1987 | 46,390 | 1,921 | 2.42 | 242,288,918 | 19.147 | -0.24% |
1988 | 47,087 | 2,025 | 2.32 | 244,498,982 | 19.259 | 0.58% |
1989 | 45,582 | 2,096 | 2.17 | 246,819,230 | 18.468 | -4.11% |
1990 | 44,599 | 2,144 | 2.08 | 249,464,396 | 17.878 | -3.19% |
1991 | 41,508 | 2,172 | 1.91 | 252,153,092 | 16.461 | -7.92% |
1992 | 39,250 | 2,247 | 1.75 | 255,029,699 | 15.390 | -6.51% |
1993 | 40,150 | 2,296 | 1.75 | 257,782,608 | 15.575 | 1.20% |
1994 | 40,716 | 2,358 | 1.73 | 260,327,021 | 15.640 | 0.42% |
1995 | 41,817 | 2,423 | 1.73 | 262,803,276 | 15.912 | 1.74% |
1996 | 42,065 | 2,486 | 1.69 | 265,228,572 | 15.860 | -0.33% |
1997 | 42,013 | 2,562 | 1.64 | 267,783,607 | 15.690 | -1.08% |
1998 | 41,501 | 2,632 | 1.58 | 270,248,003 | 15.356 | -2.12% |
1999 | 41,717 | 2,691 | 1.55 | 272,690,813 | 15.298 | -0.38% |
2000 | 41,945 | 2,747 | 1.53 | 282,216,952 | 14.863 | -2.85% |
2001[2] | 42,196 | 2,797 | 1.51 | 285,226,284 | 14.794 | -0.46% |
2002 | 43,005 | 2,856 | 1.51 | 288,125,973 | 14.926 | 0.89% |
2003 | 42,884 | 2,890 | 1.48 | 290,796,023 | 14.747 | -1.75% |
2004 | 42,836 | 2,965 | 1.44 | 293,638,158 | 14.588 | -0.52% |
2005 | 43,510 | 2,989 | 1.46 | 296,507,061 | 14.674 | 0.44% |
2006 | 42,708 | 3,014 | 1.42 | 299,398,484 | 14.265 | -2.79% |
2007 | 41,259 | 3,031 | 1.36 | 301,139,947 | 13.701 | -3.85% |
2008 | 37,423 | 2,977 | 1.26 | 303,824,640 | 12.317 | -11.0% |
2009 | 33,883 | 2,957 | 1.15 | 306,700,000 | 11.048 | -9.7% |
2010[2] | 32,999 | 2,967 | 1.11 | 309,326,000 | 10.668 | -3.5% |
2011[6] | 32,479 | 2,950 | 1.10 | 311,588,000 | 10.42 | -2.3% |
2012[7] | 33,782 | 2,969 | 1.14 | 313,914,000 | 10.75 | 2.6% |
2013 | 32,893 | 2,988 | 1.10 | 316,129,000 | 10.40 | -3.3% |
2014 | 32,744 | 3,026 | 1.08 | 318,860,000 | 10.28 | -0.9% |
2015 | 35,485 | 3,095 | 1.15 | 321,370,000 | 11.06 | 10.5% |
2016[8] | 37,806 | 3,174 | 1.19 | 323,121,000 | 11.59 | 5.6% |
2017[8] | 37,133 | 3,213 | 1.16 | 326,213,213 | 11.40 | -1.8% |
2010 detailed statistics[edit]
The following table summarizes the number of people killed and injured in fatal collisions by month in 2010. The table does not include injuries resulting from incidents in which no fatalities occurred.[9]
Month | Fatalities | In-vehicle casualties (excluding uninjured bus occupants) | Non-vehicle casualties (including pedestrians) |
---|---|---|---|
2010-01 | 2290 | 4785 | 427 |
2010-02 | 2016 | 4340 | 386 |
2010-03 | 2423 | 5087 | 407 |
2010-04 | 2777 | 5775 | 404 |
2010-05 | 2934 | 6066 | 419 |
2010-06 | 2795 | 5809 | 348 |
2010-07 | 3095 | 6763 | 456 |
2010-08 | 3083 | 6549 | 428 |
2010-09 | 3024 | 6309 | 511 |
2010-10 | 3056 | 6382 | 543 |
2010-11 | 2795 | 5842 | 573 |
2010-12 | 2597 | 5417 | 548 |
These fatalities do not include those also attributable to transportation due pollution nor energy production for the use of the transportation. They are also only human fatalities, and animals are also significantly affected with tens of millions of deaths [10]. Another factor not included in this tally is that attributable to traffic noise, which could be millions as a contributory factor and is likely to be tens of thousands as a direct consequence [11].
Pedestrians[edit]
Pedestrian deaths are included in above totals. These deaths had been falling from 6,482 in 1990 to 4,109 in 2009. The number began rising in 2010, and exceeded 6,000 by 2018. Proportionately, pedestrians comprised 12% of all traffic deaths in 2008, rising to 16% in 2017. A report by the Governors Highway Safety Association said most of the increases in deaths occurred at night, as well as suggesting several other potential explanations for the rise, including changes in economics, such as fuel prices, and changes in weather and demographics, along with increases in population, vehicle miles traveled, and time spent walking. The shift away from passenger cars to light duty trucks, particularity the popularity of SUVs, also coincided with the increase, and light truck impacts cause worse pedestrian injuries. An increase in pedestrian smartphone distraction is also a factor, with the number of phones in use increasing by a factor of five from 2010 to 2017.[12] Some 6,227 pedestrians were killed in traffic in 2018 in the USA.[13]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812451
- ^ abc'Fatality Analysis Reporting System' 2010, fars.NHTSA.dot.gov Retrieved July 3, 2014
- ^Dow Chang. 'Comparison of Crash Fatalities by Sex and Age Group'. nhtsa.dot.gov.
- ^http://www.sfgate.com/news/medical/article/2016-traffic-deaths-jump-to-highest-level-in-10934306.php
- ^'U.S. Highway Deaths Decline 2.9%, Falling for Fifth Year'. Bloomberg. December 8, 2011.
- ^'Fatality Analysis Reporting System' 2011, fars.NHTSA.dot.gov Retrieved July 3, 2014
- ^
- ^ abhttps://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812603
- ^'FARS 2010'. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
- ^'More Animals Are Killed By Cars Each Day Than We Ever Could Have Imagined'. the dodo. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^'Sonic doom: how noise pollution kills thousands each year'. the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^Retting, Richard; Sam Schwartz Consulting (February 2019), Macek, Kara (ed.), Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State 2018 Preliminary Data(PDF), Governors Highway Safety Association
- ^LeBeau, Phil (February 28, 2019), 'Pedestrian deaths hit 28-year high, and big vehicles and smartphones are to blame', CNBC
External links[edit]
- Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) at NHTSA
- 'Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities & Fatality Rate: 1899 - 2003]'(PDF). Safe Roads. 2004. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-09-21.
- Badger, Emily; Ingraham, Christopher (Oct 1, 2015). 'The hidden inequality of who dies in car crashes'. The Washington Post.
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