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Facts + Statistics: Highway safety

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The cost of auto insurance can be affected by the vehicle's cost and crashworthiness (the degree to which it can protect occupants from the effects of an accident) and by the driver's safety habits. Insurers support raising awareness about safe driving practices, such as seatbelt usage and avoiding driving while under the influence of alcohol. These initiatives reinforce public safety and help to reduce costs for policyholders and insurers.

Traffic Deaths, 2015-2024

Year Fatalities Annual
percent
change		 Fatality rate
per 100 million
vehicle miles
traveled		 Fatality rate
per 100,000
registered vehicles
2015 35,484 8.4% 1.15 12.61
2016 37,806 6.5 1.19 13.13
2017 37,473 -0.9 1.17 12.91
2018 36,835 -1.7 1.14 12.40
2019 36,355 -1.3 1.11 12.15
2020 39,007 7.3 1.34 13.13
2021 43,230 10.8 1.38 14.30
2022 42,721 -1.2 1.34 14.09
2023 40,901 -4.3 1.26 13.38
2024 (1) 39,345 -3.8 1.20 NA

(1) Estimate.

NA=Data not available.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Motor Vehicle Traffic Deaths By State, 2022-2023

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Ìý Number of deaths Ìý Number of deaths
State 2022 2023 Percent
change		 State 2022 2023 Percent
change
Alabama 988 974 -1% Montana 215 208 -3%
Alaska 82 60 -27 Nebraska 244 227 -7
Arizona 1,320 1,304 -1 Nevada 417 389 -7
Arkansas 637 596 -6 New Hampshire 146 130 -11
California 4,539 4,061 -11 New Jersey 689 606 -12
Colorado 764 720 -6 New Mexico 466 437 -6
Connecticut 366 308 -16 New York 1,182 1,114 -6
Delaware 162 135 -17 North Carolina 1,631 1,561 -4
D.C. 32 44 38 North Dakota 98 106 8
Florida 3,548 3,396 -4 Ohio 1,274 1,242 -3
Georgia 1,796 1,615 -10 Oklahoma 710 718 1
Hawaii 116 93 -20 Oregon 602 587 -2
Idaho 215 275 28 Pennsylvania 1,179 1,211 3
Illinois 1,268 1,241 -2 Rhode Island 52 71 37
Indiana 976 898 -8 South Carolina 1,094 1,047 -4
Iowa 336 377 12 South Dakota 137 140 2
Kansas 410 387 -6 Tennessee 1,313 1,323 1
Kentucky 744 814 9 Texas 4,408 4,291 -3
Louisiana 906 811 -10 Utah 319 280 -12
Maine 182 135 -26 Vermont 76 69 -9
Maryland 566 621 10 Virginia 1,006 913 -9
Massachusetts 435 343 -21 Washington 743 810 9
Michigan 1,124 1,094 -3 West Virginia 266 260 -2
Minnesota 444 409 -8 Wisconsin 604 583 -3
Mississippi 703 732 4 Wyoming 134 144 7
Missouri 1,057 991 -6 United States 42,721 40,901 -4%

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Drivers In Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes By Age, 2023

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Ìý Licensed drivers Drivers in fatal
crashes
Age group Number Percent of
total drivers		 Number Involvement
rate (1)
16 to 20 11,987,688 5.0% 5,133 42.40
21 to 24 14,432,685 6.1 5,101 35.34
25 to 34 41,125,124 17.3 11,916 28.97
35 to 44 40,851,641 17.2 9,876 24.18
45 to 54 37,392,958 15.7 8,116 21.70
55 to 64 38,874,729 16.4 7,560 19.45
65 to 74 32,076,696 13.5 4,954 15.44
Over 74 20,795,179 8.8 3,458 16.63
Total (2) 237,655,885 100.0% 57,939 24.38

(1) Per 100,000 licensed drivers in each age group.
(2) Includes drivers under the age of 15 and of unknown age.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Federal Highway Administration.

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Driving Behaviors Reported For Drivers And Motorcycle Operators Involved In Fatal Crashes, 2023

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Behavior Number (1) Percent
Driving too fast for conditions or in excess of posted limit or racing 10,739 18.5%
Under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication 5,842 10.1
Operating vehicle in a careless manner 4,779 8.2
Failure to yield right of way 4,584 7.9
Failure to keep in proper lane 3,230 5.6
Distracted (phone, talking, eating, object, etc.) 3,143 5.4
Operating vehicle in erratic, reckless or negligent manner 2,522 4.4
Failure to obey traffic signs, signals, or officer 2,171 3.7
Overcorrecting/oversteering 1,587 2.7
Vision obscured (rain, snow, glare, lights, building, trees, etc.) 1,584 2.7
Drowsy, asleep, fatigued, ill, or blacked outÌý 1,188 2.1
Swerving or avoiding due to wind, slippery surface, etc. 1,100 1.9
Driving wrong way on one-way traffic or wrong side of road 1,042 1.8
Making improper turn 448 0.8
Other factors 5,928 10.2
None reported 8,029 13.9
Unknown 20,185 34.8
Total drivers (2) 57,939 100.0%

(1) Number of drivers and motorcycle operators.
(2) The sum of the numbers and percentages is greater than total drivers as more than one factor may be present for the same driver. Beginning in 2022, operators and passengers of motorized bicycles are captured as pedal cyclists when involved in a motor vehicle traffic crash.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Fatal Crashes By First Harmful Event, Type Of Collision, 2022

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Type of collision Number Percent of total
fatal crashes
Collision with moving motor vehicle Ìý Ìý
Angle 7,168 18.3
Rear end 2,817 7.2
Sideswipe 1,067 2.7
Head on 4,253 10.8
Other/unknown 156 0.4
ÌýÌýÌýÌý Total 15,461 39.4%
Collision with fixed object Ìý Ìý
Pole/post 1,632 4.2
Culvert/curb/ditch 2,815 7.2
Shrubbery/tree 2,601 6.6
Guard rail 977 2.5
Embankment 889 2.3
Bridge 228 0.6
Other/unknown 2,055 5.2
ÌýÌýÌýÌý Total 11,197 28.5%
Collision with object, not fixed Ìý Ìý
Parked motor vehicle 497 1.3
Animal 173 0.4
Pedestrian 6,931 17.7
Pedalcyclist 1,082 2.8
Train 120 0.3
Other/unknown 524 1.3
ÌýÌýÌýÌý Total 9,327 23.8%
Noncollision Ìý Ìý
Rollover 2,735 7.0
Other/unknown 407 1.0
ÌýÌýÌýÌý Total 3,142 8.0%
Total 39,221 (1) 100.0%

(1) Includes 94 fatal crashes with unknown first harmful events.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Ìý

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Holiday Driving, 2018-2022 (1)

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Ìý Holiday period (1)
Ìý New Year’s Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day
Year Deaths Percent
alcohol-
impaired (2)		 Deaths Percent
alcohol-
impaired (2)		 Deaths Percent
alcohol-
impaired (2)		 Deaths Percent
alcohol-
impaired (2)		 Deaths Percent
alcohol-
impaired (2)		 Deaths Percent
alcohol-
impaired (2)
2018 325 39% 430 38% 175 41% 433 36% 433 31% 425 35%
2019 428 36 453 37 498 39 438 39 413 29 136 37
2020 145 52 396 41 480 41 510 38 504 36 323 39
2021 398 42 455 41 517 41 510 42 521 37 382 36
2022 401 37 491 43 462 40 466 39 512 35 365 38

(1) The length of the holiday period depends on the day of the week on which the holiday falls. Memorial Day and Labor Day are always 3.25 days; Thanksgiving is always 4.25 days; and New Year’s Day, Independence Day, and Christmas are 3.25 days if the holiday falls on Friday through Monday, 4.25 days if on Tuesday or Thursday, and 1.25 days if on Wednesday. See for more information.
(2) The highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) among drivers or motorcycle riders involved in the crash was 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher (the legal definition of drunk driving in most states).

Source: National Safety Council based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

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Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths By Month, 2022

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Month Deaths Percent of total Rank
January 2,946 8% 11
February 2,748 7 12
March 3,050 8 9
April 2,951 8 10
May 3,376 9 5
June 3,359 9 6
July 3,558 9 3
August 3,554 9 4
September 3,587 9 2
October 3,674 9 1
November 3,200 8 8
December 3,218 8 7
Total 39,221 100% Ìý

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Fatal Crashes Involving Distracted Drivers, 2023

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Ìý Crashes Drivers Fatalities
Total fatal crashes 37,654 57,939 40,901
Distraction-affected fatal crashes Ìý Ìý Ìý
Number of distraction-affected fatal crashes 3,021 3,143 3,275
Percent of total fatal crashes 8% 5% 8%
Cellphone in use in distraction-affected fatal crashes Ìý Ìý Ìý
Number of cellphone distraction-affected fatal crashes 369 371 397
Percent of fatal distraction-affected crashes 12% 12% 12%

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Additional resources

Background

Background on: Teen drivers

Background on: Older drivers

Background on: Distracted driving

Facts + Statistics

Drowsy driving

Aggressive driving

Distracted driving

Teen drivers

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Background on: Alcohol-impaired driving
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Background on: Motorcycle crashes