Fatality Facts 2022Yearly snapshot
Overview
A total of 42,514 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2022. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent estimate of the annual economic cost of crashes is $340 billion (Blincoe et al., 2023). Contributing to the death toll are alcohol, speeding, lack of seat belt use and other problematic behaviors. Death rates vary by vehicle type, driver age and sex, and other factors.
In 1975, the U.S. Department of Transportation started an annual census of motor vehicle deaths, recording information on crash type, vehicle type, road type, driver characteristics and a variety of other factors. Institute researchers analyze these data each year to quantify the public health problem of motor vehicle deaths.
The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
Posted June 2024.
Trends
Although the U.S. population has grown continuously since 1975, the rate of crash deaths per 100,000 people in 2022 was 38% lower than it was four decades ago. In 2022, the overall per capita death rate decreased 2.1% compared with 2021.
Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by type, 1975-2022 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Deaths | Population | Rate per 100k persons | Miles traveled (millions) | Rate per 100 million miles |
1975 | 44,525 | 215,973,199 | 20.6 | 1,330,074 | 3.35 |
1976 | 45,523 | 218,035,164 | 20.9 | 1,409,163 | 3.23 |
1977 | 47,878 | 220,239,425 | 21.7 | 1,476,567 | 3.24 |
1978 | 50,331 | 222,584,545 | 22.6 | 1,548,213 | 3.25 |
1979 | 51,093 | 225,055,487 | 22.7 | 1,529,133 | 3.34 |
1980 | 51,091 | 227,224,719 | 22.5 | 1,520,857 | 3.36 |
1981 | 49,301 | 229,465,608 | 21.5 | 1,550,271 | 3.18 |
1982 | 43,945 | 231,664,496 | 19.0 | 1,592,481 | 2.76 |
1983 | 42,589 | 233,791,903 | 18.2 | 1,649,106 | 2.58 |
1984 | 44,257 | 235,824,783 | 18.8 | 1,716,768 | 2.58 |
1985 | 43,825 | 237,923,732 | 18.4 | 1,774,762 | 2.47 |
1986 | 46,087 | 240,132,841 | 19.2 | 1,838,240 | 2.51 |
1987 | 46,390 | 242,289,023 | 19.1 | 1,924,327 | 2.41 |
1988 | 47,087 | 244,498,836 | 19.3 | 2,025,586 | 2.32 |
1989 | 45,582 | 246,819,119 | 18.5 | 2,107,040 | 2.16 |
1990 | 44,599 | 249,464,396 | 17.9 | 2,147,501 | 2.08 |
1991 | 41,508 | 252,153,092 | 16.5 | 2,172,214 | 1.91 |
1992 | 39,250 | 255,029,699 | 15.4 | 2,239,828 | 1.75 |
1993 | 40,150 | 257,782,608 | 15.6 | 2,296,585 | 1.75 |
1994 | 40,716 | 260,327,021 | 15.6 | 2,357,588 | 1.73 |
1995 | 41,817 | 262,803,276 | 15.9 | 2,422,775 | 1.73 |
1996 | 42,065 | 265,228,572 | 15.9 | 2,482,202 | 1.69 |
1997 | 42,013 | 267,783,607 | 15.7 | 2,560,373 | 1.64 |
1998 | 41,501 | 270,248,003 | 15.4 | 2,625,367 | 1.58 |
1999 | 41,717 | 272,690,813 | 15.3 | 2,691,335 | 1.55 |
2000 | 41,945 | 282,192,162 | 14.9 | 2,749,803 | 1.53 |
2001 | 42,196 | 285,102,075 | 14.8 | 2,781,462 | 1.52 |
2002 | 43,005 | 287,941,220 | 14.9 | 2,855,756 | 1.51 |
2003 | 42,884 | 290,788,976 | 14.7 | 2,890,893 | 1.48 |
2004 | 42,836 | 293,655,404 | 14.6 | 2,962,513 | 1.45 |
2005 | 43,510 | 296,410,404 | 14.7 | 2,989,807 | 1.46 |
2006 | 42,708 | 299,398,484 | 14.3 | 3,014,116 | 1.42 |
2007 | 41,259 | 301,621,157 | 13.7 | 3,032,399 | 1.36 |
2008 | 37,423 | 304,059,724 | 12.3 | 2,973,509 | 1.26 |
2009 | 33,883 | 307,006,550 | 11.0 | 2,977,591 | 1.14 |
2010 | 32,999 | 309,327,143 | 10.7 | 2,966,506 | 1.11 |
2011 | 32,479 | 311,583,481 | 10.4 | 2,946,131 | 1.10 |
2012 | 33,782 | 313,877,662 | 10.8 | 2,969,433 | 1.14 |
2013 | 32,894 | 316,059,947 | 10.4 | 2,988,280 | 1.10 |
2014 | 32,744 | 318,386,329 | 10.3 | 3,025,656 | 1.08 |
2015 | 35,485 | 320,738,994 | 11.1 | 3,095,373 | 1.15 |
2016 | 37,806 | 323,071,755 | 11.7 | 3,174,408 | 1.19 |
2017 | 37,473 | 325,122,128 | 11.5 | 3,212,347 | 1.17 |
2018 | 36,835 | 326,838,199 | 11.3 | 3,240,327 | 1.14 |
2019 | 36,355 | 328,329,953 | 11.1 | 3,261,772 | 1.11 |
2020 | 39,007 | 329,484,123 | 11.8 | 2,903,622 | 1.34 |
2021 | 43,230 | 331,893,745 | 13.0 | 3,140,088 | 1.38 |
2022 | 42,514 | 333,287,557 | 12.8 | 3,196,191 | 1.33 |
Motor vehicle crash deaths by type, 1975-2022 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Passenger vehicle occupants | Pedestrians | Motorcyclists | Bicyclists | Large truck occupants | Other | All motor vehicle deaths | ||||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | |
1975 | 30,601 | 69 | 7,516 | 17 | 3,180 | 7 | 1,003 | 2 | 916 | 2 | 1,309 | 3 | 44,525 |
1976 | 31,724 | 70 | 7,427 | 16 | 3,306 | 7 | 914 | 2 | 1,100 | 2 | 1,052 | 2 | 45,523 |
1977 | 32,823 | 69 | 7,732 | 16 | 4,099 | 9 | 922 | 2 | 1,229 | 3 | 1,073 | 2 | 47,878 |
1978 | 34,923 | 69 | 7,795 | 15 | 4,574 | 9 | 892 | 2 | 1,315 | 3 | 832 | 2 | 50,331 |
1979 | 35,026 | 69 | 8,096 | 16 | 4,892 | 10 | 932 | 2 | 1,372 | 3 | 775 | 2 | 51,093 |
1980 | 34,996 | 68 | 8,070 | 16 | 5,138 | 10 | 965 | 2 | 1,183 | 2 | 739 | 1 | 51,091 |
1981 | 33,711 | 68 | 7,837 | 16 | 4,896 | 10 | 936 | 2 | 1,082 | 2 | 839 | 2 | 49,301 |
1982 | 29,656 | 67 | 7,331 | 17 | 4,449 | 10 | 864 | 2 | 917 | 2 | 728 | 2 | 43,945 |
1983 | 29,154 | 68 | 6,826 | 16 | 4,260 | 10 | 830 | 2 | 960 | 2 | 559 | 1 | 42,589 |
1984 | 30,094 | 68 | 7,025 | 16 | 4,602 | 10 | 838 | 2 | 1,040 | 2 | 658 | 1 | 44,257 |
1985 | 29,848 | 68 | 6,808 | 16 | 4,562 | 10 | 869 | 2 | 941 | 2 | 797 | 2 | 43,825 |
1986 | 32,224 | 70 | 6,779 | 15 | 4,566 | 10 | 929 | 2 | 892 | 2 | 697 | 2 | 46,087 |
1987 | 33,145 | 71 | 6,745 | 15 | 4,034 | 9 | 940 | 2 | 821 | 2 | 705 | 2 | 46,390 |
1988 | 34,105 | 72 | 6,870 | 15 | 3,661 | 8 | 901 | 2 | 886 | 2 | 664 | 1 | 47,087 |
1989 | 33,599 | 74 | 6,556 | 14 | 3,135 | 7 | 822 | 2 | 822 | 2 | 648 | 1 | 45,582 |
1990 | 32,711 | 73 | 6,482 | 15 | 3,243 | 7 | 853 | 2 | 684 | 2 | 626 | 1 | 44,599 |
1991 | 30,810 | 74 | 5,801 | 14 | 2,805 | 7 | 836 | 2 | 650 | 2 | 606 | 1 | 41,508 |
1992 | 29,457 | 75 | 5,549 | 14 | 2,395 | 6 | 717 | 2 | 580 | 1 | 552 | 1 | 39,250 |
1993 | 29,994 | 75 | 5,649 | 14 | 2,445 | 6 | 806 | 2 | 590 | 1 | 666 | 2 | 40,150 |
1994 | 30,820 | 76 | 5,489 | 13 | 2,317 | 6 | 796 | 2 | 658 | 2 | 636 | 2 | 40,716 |
1995 | 31,914 | 76 | 5,584 | 13 | 2,226 | 5 | 828 | 2 | 634 | 2 | 631 | 2 | 41,817 |
1996 | 32,354 | 77 | 5,449 | 13 | 2,161 | 5 | 761 | 2 | 602 | 1 | 738 | 2 | 42,065 |
1997 | 32,343 | 77 | 5,321 | 13 | 2,116 | 5 | 811 | 2 | 717 | 2 | 705 | 2 | 42,013 |
1998 | 31,781 | 77 | 5,228 | 13 | 2,294 | 6 | 757 | 2 | 739 | 2 | 702 | 2 | 41,501 |
1999 | 32,008 | 77 | 4,939 | 12 | 2,483 | 6 | 750 | 2 | 747 | 2 | 790 | 2 | 41,717 |
2000 | 32,109 | 77 | 4,763 | 11 | 2,895 | 7 | 689 | 2 | 737 | 2 | 752 | 2 | 41,945 |
2001 | 31,938 | 76 | 4,901 | 12 | 3,195 | 8 | 729 | 2 | 691 | 2 | 742 | 2 | 42,196 |
2002 | 32,724 | 76 | 4,851 | 11 | 3,267 | 8 | 663 | 2 | 675 | 2 | 825 | 2 | 43,005 |
2003 | 32,166 | 75 | 4,774 | 11 | 3,710 | 9 | 626 | 1 | 703 | 2 | 905 | 2 | 42,884 |
2004 | 31,750 | 74 | 4,675 | 11 | 4,026 | 9 | 722 | 2 | 743 | 2 | 920 | 2 | 42,836 |
2005 | 31,455 | 72 | 4,892 | 11 | 4,575 | 11 | 784 | 2 | 758 | 2 | 1,046 | 2 | 43,510 |
2006 | 30,628 | 72 | 4,795 | 11 | 4,810 | 11 | 769 | 2 | 774 | 2 | 932 | 2 | 42,708 |
2007 | 29,155 | 71 | 4,699 | 11 | 5,174 | 13 | 699 | 2 | 745 | 2 | 787 | 2 | 41,259 |
2008 | 25,547 | 68 | 4,414 | 12 | 5,307 | 14 | 716 | 2 | 615 | 2 | 824 | 2 | 37,423 |
2009 | 23,507 | 69 | 4,109 | 12 | 4,467 | 13 | 628 | 2 | 449 | 1 | 723 | 2 | 33,883 |
2010 | 22,351 | 68 | 4,302 | 13 | 4,517 | 14 | 621 | 2 | 475 | 1 | 733 | 2 | 32,999 |
2011 | 21,413 | 66 | 4,457 | 14 | 4,630 | 14 | 680 | 2 | 555 | 2 | 744 | 2 | 32,479 |
2012 | 21,906 | 65 | 4,818 | 14 | 4,986 | 15 | 730 | 2 | 590 | 2 | 752 | 2 | 33,782 |
2013 | 21,361 | 65 | 4,779 | 15 | 4,691 | 14 | 747 | 2 | 589 | 2 | 727 | 2 | 32,894 |
2014 | 21,131 | 65 | 4,910 | 15 | 4,302 | 13 | 723 | 2 | 585 | 2 | 1,093 | 3 | 32,744 |
2015 | 22,741 | 64 | 5,495 | 15 | 5,026 | 14 | 828 | 2 | 598 | 2 | 797 | 2 | 35,485 |
2016 | 23,957 | 63 | 6,080 | 16 | 5,337 | 14 | 848 | 2 | 662 | 2 | 922 | 2 | 37,806 |
2017 | 23,866 | 64 | 6,075 | 16 | 5,229 | 14 | 800 | 2 | 680 | 2 | 823 | 2 | 37,473 |
2018 | 23,046 | 63 | 6,374 | 17 | 5,038 | 14 | 868 | 2 | 677 | 2 | 832 | 2 | 36,835 |
2019 | 22,557 | 62 | 6,272 | 17 | 5,044 | 14 | 856 | 2 | 680 | 2 | 946 | 3 | 36,355 |
2020 | 24,135 | 62 | 6,565 | 17 | 5,619 | 14 | 942 | 2 | 609 | 2 | 1,137 | 3 | 39,007 |
2021 | 26,728 | 62 | 7,470 | 17 | 6,137 | 14 | 971 | 2 | 759 | 2 | 1,165 | 3 | 43,230 |
2022 | 25,726 | 61 | 7,522 | 18 | 6,222 | 15 | 1,084 | 3 | 823 | 2 | 1,137 | 3 | 42,514 |
Age and sex
At all ages, males had higher per capita crash death rates than females in 2022. Males ages 20 to 29 and those 85 and older had the highest rates of crash deaths, while females ages 12 and younger had the lowest rate.
Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age and sex, 2022 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Male | Female | Total* | ||||||
Population | Deaths | Rate | Population | Deaths | Rate | Population | Deaths | Rate | |
<13 | 25,981,412 | 466 | 1.8 | 24,812,058 | 393 | 1.6 | 50,793,470 | 859 | 1.7 |
13-15 | 6,680,583 | 301 | 4.5 | 6,359,900 | 174 | 2.7 | 13,040,483 | 477 | 3.7 |
16-19 | 8,828,942 | 1,679 | 19.0 | 8,410,284 | 723 | 8.6 | 17,239,226 | 2,406 | 14.0 |
20-24 | 11,601,988 | 3,036 | 26.2 | 11,103,791 | 1,099 | 9.9 | 22,705,779 | 4,140 | 18.2 |
25-29 | 11,352,742 | 3,069 | 27.0 | 10,840,422 | 1,015 | 9.4 | 22,193,164 | 4,088 | 18.4 |
30-34 | 11,836,820 | 2,930 | 24.8 | 11,471,316 | 1,079 | 9.4 | 23,308,136 | 4,016 | 17.2 |
35-39 | 11,302,300 | 2,651 | 23.5 | 10,965,649 | 867 | 7.9 | 22,267,949 | 3,521 | 15.8 |
40-44 | 10,817,889 | 2,397 | 22.2 | 10,609,527 | 783 | 7.4 | 21,427,416 | 3,181 | 14.8 |
45-49 | 9,844,989 | 2,056 | 20.9 | 9,779,109 | 704 | 7.2 | 19,624,098 | 2,762 | 14.1 |
50-54 | 10,434,641 | 2,177 | 20.9 | 10,372,906 | 747 | 7.2 | 20,807,547 | 2,926 | 14.1 |
55-59 | 10,373,923 | 2,222 | 21.4 | 10,593,091 | 771 | 7.3 | 20,967,014 | 2,999 | 14.3 |
60-64 | 10,297,980 | 2,241 | 21.8 | 10,820,443 | 724 | 6.7 | 21,118,423 | 2,968 | 14.1 |
65-69 | 8,873,901 | 1,707 | 19.2 | 9,757,521 | 635 | 6.5 | 18,631,422 | 2,345 | 12.6 |
70-74 | 7,036,771 | 1,348 | 19.2 | 8,120,246 | 597 | 7.4 | 15,157,017 | 1,946 | 12.8 |
75-79 | 4,909,686 | 993 | 20.2 | 5,951,314 | 548 | 9.2 | 10,861,000 | 1,543 | 14.2 |
80-84 | 2,825,159 | 663 | 23.5 | 3,834,386 | 403 | 10.5 | 6,659,545 | 1,070 | 16.1 |
85+ | 2,283,827 | 633 | 27.7 | 4,202,041 | 429 | 10.2 | 6,485,868 | 1,067 | 16.5 |
Total* | 165,283,553 | 30,669 | 18.6 | 168,004,004 | 11,737 | 7.0 | 333,287,557 | 42,514 | 12.8 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
From 1975 to 2022, the rate of deaths per 100,000 people declined by 79% for people 12 and younger (from 7.9 to 1.7), 68% for teenagers (from 29.4 to 9.5), 39% for people ages 20-34 (from 29.6 to 18.0), 18% for people ages 35-69 (from 17.5 to 14.3), and 45% for people 70 and older (from 25.9 to 11.5).
Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2022 | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | <13 years | 13-19 years | 20-34 years | 35-69 years | 70+ years | ||||||||||
Population | Number | Rate | Population | Number | Rate | Population | Number | Rate | Population | Number | Rate | Population | Number | Rate | |
1975 | 45,851,304 | 3,643 | 7.9 | 29,795,023 | 8,748 | 29.4 | 50,998,098 | 15,074 | 29.6 | 74,764,829 | 13,080 | 17.5 | 14,563,945 | 3,775 | 25.9 |
1976 | 45,000,704 | 3,424 | 7.6 | 29,909,414 | 9,356 | 31.3 | 52,745,005 | 15,517 | 29.4 | 75,419,921 | 13,137 | 17.4 | 14,960,120 | 3,896 | 26.0 |
1977 | 44,337,332 | 3,347 | 7.5 | 29,800,313 | 9,633 | 32.3 | 54,497,448 | 17,287 | 31.7 | 76,203,083 | 13,460 | 17.7 | 15,401,249 | 3,859 | 25.1 |
1978 | 43,907,467 | 3,367 | 7.7 | 29,543,252 | 9,940 | 33.6 | 55,909,063 | 18,886 | 33.8 | 77,348,222 | 14,020 | 18.1 | 15,876,541 | 3,824 | 24.1 |
1979 | 43,778,959 | 3,171 | 7.2 | 29,077,607 | 9,920 | 34.1 | 57,499,197 | 19,675 | 34.2 | 78,311,107 | 14,232 | 18.2 | 16,388,617 | 3,772 | 23.0 |
1980 | 43,914,342 | 3,048 | 6.9 | 28,486,487 | 9,524 | 33.4 | 58,814,391 | 20,110 | 34.2 | 79,111,522 | 14,219 | 18.0 | 16,897,977 | 3,861 | 22.8 |
1981 | 44,049,940 | 2,733 | 6.2 | 27,743,947 | 8,315 | 30.0 | 60,563,416 | 19,887 | 32.8 | 79,785,591 | 13,950 | 17.5 | 17,322,714 | 3,871 | 22.3 |
1982 | 44,131,596 | 2,573 | 5.8 | 27,160,586 | 7,323 | 27.0 | 61,099,524 | 17,465 | 28.6 | 81,488,902 | 12,685 | 15.6 | 17,783,888 | 3,655 | 20.6 |
1983 | 44,119,297 | 2,518 | 5.7 | 26,737,497 | 6,805 | 25.5 | 61,840,154 | 16,853 | 27.3 | 82,861,204 | 12,488 | 15.1 | 18,233,751 | 3,734 | 20.5 |
1984 | 43,978,044 | 2,422 | 5.5 | 26,435,885 | 6,952 | 26.3 | 62,491,255 | 17,579 | 28.1 | 84,256,661 | 13,006 | 15.4 | 18,662,938 | 4,052 | 21.7 |
1985 | 44,260,136 | 2,469 | 5.6 | 26,001,247 | 6,737 | 25.9 | 62,961,154 | 17,031 | 27.1 | 85,628,410 | 13,126 | 15.3 | 19,072,785 | 4,206 | 22.1 |
1986 | 44,755,454 | 2,537 | 5.7 | 25,592,481 | 7,466 | 29.2 | 63,115,889 | 18,132 | 28.7 | 87,205,537 | 13,263 | 15.2 | 19,463,480 | 4,445 | 22.8 |
1987 | 45,348,247 | 2,654 | 5.9 | 25,209,615 | 7,293 | 28.9 | 63,032,298 | 17,676 | 28.0 | 88,808,046 | 14,074 | 15.8 | 19,890,817 | 4,555 | 22.9 |
1988 | 45,942,966 | 2,701 | 5.9 | 25,004,445 | 7,242 | 29.0 | 62,784,739 | 17,613 | 28.1 | 90,464,406 | 14,458 | 16.0 | 20,302,280 | 4,925 | 24.3 |
1989 | 46,690,604 | 2,658 | 5.7 | 24,664,300 | 6,688 | 27.1 | 62,494,056 | 16,512 | 26.4 | 92,250,762 | 14,651 | 15.9 | 20,719,397 | 4,943 | 23.9 |
1990 | 47,472,527 | 2,332 | 4.9 | 24,404,795 | 6,364 | 26.1 | 62,282,683 | 16,366 | 26.3 | 94,140,108 | 14,568 | 15.5 | 21,164,283 | 4,844 | 22.9 |
1991 | 48,240,747 | 2,257 | 4.7 | 24,066,587 | 5,760 | 23.9 | 62,025,750 | 14,949 | 24.1 | 96,068,111 | 13,587 | 14.1 | 21,751,897 | 4,843 | 22.3 |
1992 | 48,903,668 | 2,165 | 4.4 | 24,163,175 | 5,215 | 21.6 | 61,427,100 | 13,445 | 21.9 | 98,214,539 | 13,414 | 13.7 | 22,321,217 | 4,901 | 22.0 |
1993 | 49,335,864 | 2,164 | 4.4 | 24,664,091 | 5,421 | 22.0 | 60,582,332 | 13,456 | 22.2 | 100,399,648 | 13,748 | 13.7 | 22,800,673 | 5,221 | 22.9 |
1994 | 49,692,462 | 2,301 | 4.6 | 25,219,838 | 5,632 | 22.3 | 59,629,351 | 13,020 | 21.8 | 102,541,525 | 14,251 | 13.9 | 23,243,845 | 5,425 | 23.3 |
1995 | 49,920,484 | 2,201 | 4.4 | 25,764,300 | 5,675 | 22.0 | 58,712,407 | 13,330 | 22.7 | 104,712,328 | 15,018 | 14.3 | 23,693,757 | 5,509 | 23.3 |
1996 | 50,085,188 | 2,186 | 4.4 | 26,357,198 | 5,819 | 22.1 | 57,753,910 | 12,869 | 22.3 | 106,975,953 | 15,496 | 14.5 | 24,056,323 | 5,578 | 23.2 |
1997 | 50,364,983 | 2,108 | 4.2 | 26,730,812 | 5,730 | 21.4 | 57,046,569 | 12,334 | 21.6 | 109,232,426 | 15,860 | 14.5 | 24,408,817 | 5,872 | 24.1 |
1998 | 50,527,476 | 2,032 | 4.0 | 27,174,728 | 5,610 | 20.6 | 56,421,053 | 11,785 | 20.9 | 111,331,195 | 16,185 | 14.5 | 24,793,551 | 5,798 | 23.4 |
1999 | 50,667,139 | 1,997 | 3.9 | 27,518,156 | 5,752 | 20.9 | 55,961,401 | 11,840 | 21.2 | 113,451,312 | 16,384 | 14.4 | 25,092,805 | 5,657 | 22.5 |
2000 | 52,219,423 | 1,888 | 3.6 | 28,326,412 | 5,685 | 20.1 | 58,971,709 | 12,174 | 20.6 | 117,114,739 | 16,700 | 14.3 | 25,559,879 | 5,379 | 21.0 |
2001 | 52,341,395 | 1,751 | 3.3 | 28,437,711 | 5,594 | 19.7 | 59,465,066 | 12,375 | 20.8 | 119,060,436 | 16,934 | 14.2 | 25,797,467 | 5,425 | 21.0 |
2002 | 52,332,306 | 1,617 | 3.1 | 28,644,313 | 5,954 | 20.8 | 60,046,068 | 12,609 | 21.0 | 120,913,207 | 17,374 | 14.4 | 26,005,326 | 5,332 | 20.5 |
2003 | 52,187,602 | 1,643 | 3.1 | 29,028,500 | 5,718 | 19.7 | 60,599,350 | 12,365 | 20.4 | 122,772,578 | 17,705 | 14.4 | 26,200,946 | 5,363 | 20.5 |
2004 | 52,151,406 | 1,645 | 3.2 | 29,400,392 | 5,645 | 19.2 | 61,003,240 | 12,620 | 20.7 | 124,762,848 | 17,707 | 14.2 | 26,337,518 | 5,106 | 19.4 |
2005 | 52,149,395 | 1,529 | 2.9 | 29,589,854 | 5,300 | 17.9 | 61,180,772 | 13,023 | 21.3 | 126,831,714 | 18,491 | 14.6 | 26,658,669 | 5,047 | 18.9 |
2006 | 52,306,908 | 1,430 | 2.7 | 29,772,198 | 5,159 | 17.3 | 61,527,219 | 13,142 | 21.4 | 128,907,361 | 18,233 | 14.1 | 26,884,798 | 4,636 | 17.2 |
2007 | 52,585,809 | 1,269 | 2.4 | 29,775,943 | 4,981 | 16.7 | 61,623,322 | 12,531 | 20.3 | 130,500,566 | 17,725 | 13.6 | 27,135,517 | 4,631 | 17.1 |
2008 | 52,929,779 | 1,047 | 2.0 | 29,710,307 | 4,070 | 13.7 | 61,990,546 | 11,406 | 18.4 | 131,908,058 | 16,538 | 12.5 | 27,521,034 | 4,291 | 15.6 |
2009 | 53,753,412 | 1,066 | 2.0 | 29,667,279 | 3,480 | 11.7 | 63,105,881 | 9,940 | 15.8 | 132,693,708 | 15,340 | 11.6 | 27,786,270 | 3,995 | 14.4 |
2010 | 52,937,278 | 962 | 1.8 | 30,247,014 | 3,121 | 10.3 | 62,914,600 | 9,684 | 15.4 | 135,270,594 | 15,015 | 11.1 | 27,957,657 | 4,171 | 14.9 |
2011 | 52,921,253 | 908 | 1.7 | 29,917,216 | 3,033 | 10.1 | 63,965,818 | 9,633 | 15.1 | 136,306,915 | 14,782 | 10.8 | 28,472,279 | 4,071 | 14.3 |
2012 | 52,855,061 | 958 | 1.8 | 29,646,417 | 2,837 | 9.6 | 64,900,433 | 10,210 | 15.7 | 137,323,658 | 15,614 | 11.4 | 29,152,093 | 4,113 | 14.1 |
2013 | 52,719,631 | 940 | 1.8 | 29,551,607 | 2,543 | 8.6 | 65,681,251 | 9,908 | 15.1 | 138,067,096 | 15,298 | 11.1 | 30,040,362 | 4,150 | 13.8 |
2014 | 52,676,380 | 875 | 1.7 | 29,462,818 | 2,630 | 8.9 | 66,367,803 | 9,879 | 14.9 | 139,015,319 | 15,073 | 10.8 | 30,864,009 | 4,206 | 13.6 |
2015 | 52,764,080 | 946 | 1.8 | 29,356,330 | 2,747 | 9.4 | 66,762,737 | 10,608 | 15.9 | 140,231,069 | 16,677 | 11.9 | 31,624,778 | 4,427 | 14.0 |
2016 | 52,811,215 | 1,033 | 2.0 | 29,350,222 | 2,837 | 9.7 | 67,142,780 | 11,368 | 16.9 | 141,361,052 | 17,601 | 12.5 | 32,406,486 | 4,848 | 15.0 |
2017 | 52,726,410 | 949 | 1.8 | 29,387,954 | 2,762 | 9.4 | 67,381,469 | 10,932 | 16.2 | 141,662,252 | 17,670 | 12.5 | 33,964,043 | 5,037 | 14.8 |
2018 | 52,553,599 | 890 | 1.7 | 29,402,794 | 2,496 | 8.5 | 67,504,170 | 10,761 | 15.9 | 142,087,330 | 17,585 | 12.4 | 35,290,306 | 5,026 | 14.2 |
2019 | 52,266,740 | 855 | 1.6 | 29,412,828 | 2,394 | 8.1 | 67,647,658 | 10,259 | 15.2 | 142,410,359 | 17,558 | 12.3 | 36,592,368 | 5,232 | 14.3 |
2020 | 51,887,147 | 850 | 1.6 | 29,367,208 | 2,767 | 9.4 | 67,664,401 | 11,906 | 17.6 | 142,779,669 | 18,724 | 13.1 | 37,785,698 | 4,593 | 12.2 |
2021 | 51,691,096 | 933 | 1.8 | 30,440,240 | 3,090 | 10.2 | 67,019,102 | 12,828 | 19.1 | 145,289,674 | 20,917 | 14.4 | 37,453,633 | 5,245 | 14.0 |
2022 | 50,793,470 | 859 | 1.7 | 30,279,709 | 2,883 | 9.5 | 68,207,079 | 12,244 | 18.0 | 144,843,869 | 20,702 | 14.3 | 39,163,430 | 5,626 | 14.4 |
Seat belt use
According to a national daytime observational survey of motorists, seat belt use among front seat occupants was 91.6% in 2022 (Boyle, 2023). Unrestrained vehicle occupants are more likely than restrained occupants to be fatally injured in a crash, so belt use is much lower among fatally injured occupants. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants age 13 and older in 2022, 45% of drivers and 42% of passengers were belted.
Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants 13 and older by seating position, 1995-2022 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Driver | Passenger | ||||||||||
Belt used | Unbelted | Unknown | Belt used | Unbelted | Unknown | |||||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
1995 | 6,974 | 33 | 12,692 | 59 | 1,772 | 8 | 2,642 | 29 | 5,577 | 62 | 791 | 9 |
1996 | 7,368 | 34 | 12,331 | 57 | 1,919 | 9 | 2,750 | 30 | 5,706 | 62 | 807 | 9 |
1997 | 7,561 | 35 | 12,288 | 57 | 1,847 | 9 | 2,867 | 31 | 5,497 | 60 | 810 | 9 |
1998 | 7,797 | 36 | 12,033 | 56 | 1,786 | 8 | 2,814 | 32 | 5,169 | 59 | 725 | 8 |
1999 | 7,834 | 36 | 12,252 | 56 | 1,793 | 8 | 2,748 | 32 | 5,249 | 60 | 700 | 8 |
2000 | 8,199 | 38 | 11,841 | 54 | 1,754 | 8 | 2,957 | 33 | 5,212 | 58 | 744 | 8 |
2001 | 8,509 | 39 | 11,638 | 53 | 1,700 | 8 | 2,844 | 32 | 5,178 | 59 | 737 | 8 |
2002 | 8,786 | 39 | 12,028 | 53 | 1,705 | 8 | 3,151 | 35 | 5,093 | 57 | 687 | 8 |
2003 | 9,239 | 42 | 11,274 | 51 | 1,666 | 8 | 3,127 | 36 | 4,851 | 55 | 773 | 9 |
2004 | 9,456 | 43 | 11,027 | 50 | 1,450 | 7 | 3,132 | 37 | 4,768 | 56 | 622 | 7 |
2005 | 9,315 | 42 | 11,133 | 51 | 1,489 | 7 | 3,122 | 38 | 4,551 | 55 | 634 | 8 |
2006 | 9,162 | 42 | 10,874 | 50 | 1,532 | 7 | 2,964 | 38 | 4,250 | 54 | 678 | 9 |
2007 | 8,915 | 43 | 10,070 | 49 | 1,537 | 7 | 2,902 | 38 | 4,007 | 53 | 681 | 9 |
2008 | 7,794 | 43 | 9,160 | 50 | 1,301 | 7 | 2,536 | 39 | 3,495 | 54 | 473 | 7 |
2009 | 7,421 | 44 | 8,199 | 49 | 1,207 | 7 | 2,366 | 40 | 3,031 | 52 | 449 | 8 |
2010 | 7,307 | 46 | 7,497 | 47 | 1,215 | 8 | 2,285 | 41 | 2,872 | 51 | 457 | 8 |
2011 | 7,047 | 45 | 7,356 | 47 | 1,147 | 7 | 2,055 | 40 | 2,650 | 52 | 432 | 8 |
2012 | 7,234 | 45 | 7,505 | 47 | 1,166 | 7 | 2,158 | 41 | 2,665 | 50 | 461 | 9 |
2013 | 7,324 | 47 | 6,988 | 45 | 1,261 | 8 | 2,166 | 43 | 2,439 | 48 | 471 | 9 |
2014 | 7,410 | 48 | 6,906 | 45 | 1,170 | 8 | 2,182 | 44 | 2,309 | 46 | 477 | 10 |
2015 | 8,026 | 48 | 7,289 | 44 | 1,305 | 8 | 2,344 | 44 | 2,473 | 46 | 557 | 10 |
2016 | 8,486 | 48 | 7,721 | 44 | 1,425 | 8 | 2,442 | 44 | 2,562 | 46 | 514 | 9 |
2017 | 8,670 | 49 | 7,603 | 43 | 1,466 | 8 | 2,463 | 46 | 2,339 | 44 | 563 | 10 |
2018 | 8,435 | 49 | 7,399 | 43 | 1,418 | 8 | 2,272 | 45 | 2,320 | 45 | 507 | 10 |
2019 | 8,357 | 50 | 7,108 | 42 | 1,404 | 8 | 2,227 | 45 | 2,261 | 45 | 513 | 10 |
2020 | 8,099 | 44 | 8,376 | 46 | 1,807 | 10 | 2,129 | 42 | 2,401 | 47 | 600 | 12 |
2021 | 9,115 | 45 | 9,209 | 45 | 1,994 | 10 | 2,408 | 43 | 2,522 | 45 | 642 | 12 |
2022 | 8,830 | 45 | 8,708 | 45 | 1,997 | 10 | 2,283 | 42 | 2,533 | 46 | 667 | 12 |
Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants 13 and older by crash type, 2022 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Contact Point | Restraint used | |||||
Belted | Unbelted | Total* | ||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Front | 6,570 | 44 | 6,712 | 45 | 14,860 | 100 |
Side | 2,975 | 54 | 2,009 | 36 | 5,538 | 100 |
Rear | 646 | 52 | 452 | 36 | 1,244 | 100 |
Other (mostly rollover) | 481 | 23 | 1,397 | 68 | 2,058 | 100 |
Total* | 11,115 | 44 | 11,265 | 45 | 25,057 | 100 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
Speeding
In 2022, speeding was a factor in 29% of motor vehicle crash deaths. Speeding has been a factor in more than a quarter of crash deaths over the past decade. Speeding crashes include those in which the driver was issued a traffic citation for speeding or in which driver-related factors included driving too fast for conditions, racing or exceeding the posted speed limit.
Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor, 2012-2022 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Speeding-related | Not speeding-related | Total | |||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | |
2013 | 9,696 | 29 | 23,198 | 71 | 32,894 |
2014 | 9,283 | 28 | 23,461 | 72 | 32,744 |
2015 | 9,723 | 27 | 25,762 | 73 | 35,485 |
2016 | 10,291 | 27 | 27,515 | 73 | 37,806 |
2017 | 9,947 | 27 | 27,526 | 73 | 37,473 |
2018 | 9,579 | 26 | 27,256 | 74 | 36,835 |
2019 | 9,592 | 26 | 26,763 | 74 | 36,355 |
2020 | 11,428 | 29 | 27,579 | 71 | 39,007 |
2021 | 12,498 | 29 | 30,732 | 71 | 43,230 |
2022 | 12,151 | 29 | 30,363 | 71 | 42,514 |
In 2022, the percentage of crash deaths involving speeding was higher on minor roads (33%) than on interstates and freeways (29%) or on other major roads (26%).
Crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor by road type, 2022 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Speeding-related | Not speeding-related | Total | |||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | |
Interstates and freeways | 2,204 | 29 | 5,280 | 71 | 7,484 |
Other major roads | 5,727 | 26 | 16,345 | 74 | 22,072 |
Minor roads | 4,143 | 33 | 8,442 | 67 | 12,585 |
All road types* | 12,151 | 29 | 30,363 | 71 | 42,514 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
Of the 12,151 speeding-related fatalities that occurred in 2022, about half (54%) occurred on roads with speed limits lower than 55 mph.
Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor by speed limit, 2022 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Speeding-related | Not speeding-related | Total | ||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
≤35 mph | 3,052 | 25 | 5,863 | 19 | 8,915 | 21 |
40-50 mph | 3,461 | 28 | 8,373 | 28 | 11,834 | 28 |
55+ mph | 5,170 | 43 | 14,499 | 48 | 19,669 | 46 |
Total* | 12,151 | 100 | 30,363 | 100 | 42,514 | 100 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
Distraction
A total of 3,126 drivers in fatal crashes that occurred in 2022 were categorized as distracted. Of these, the most common distraction was “generally distracted or lost in thought (daydreaming)” at 63% of distracted drivers. These figures are likely underestimates, given that it is often impossible to verify that a distraction was present at the time of a crash.
Distracted drivers in fatal crashes during 2022, by distraction type | ||
---|---|---|
Distraction type | Number | % |
Generally distracted or "lost in thought" (daydreaming) | 1,959 | 63 |
Cellphone use (talking, listening, dialing, texting) | 375 | 12 |
Outside person, object or event, such as rubbernecking | 277 | 9 |
Other distraction, not specified | 81 | 3 |
Other occupants (talking with or looking at other people in car) | 122 | 4 |
Using or reaching for device brought into vehicle, such as navigational device, headphones | 101 | 3 |
Eating or drinking | 44 | 1 |
Adjusting audio or climate controls | 30 | <1 |
Using other device/controls integral to vehicle, such as adjusting rear view mirrors, seats, or using OEM navigation system | 127 | 4 |
Moving object in vehicle, such as pet or insect | 14 | <1 |
Smoking related (includes smoking, lighting up, putting ashes in ashtray) | 11 | <1 |
All distracted drivers | 3,126 | 100 |
Some drivers were coded as engaged in multiple distractions, so the sum of the rows exceeds the total number of distracted drivers. |
When they died
In 2022, February had the fewest crash deaths and October had the most.
Motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2022 | ||
---|---|---|
Month | Deaths | % |
January | 3,199 | 8 |
February | 2,987 | 7 |
March | 3,329 | 8 |
April | 3,186 | 7 |
May | 3,656 | 9 |
June | 3,608 | 8 |
July | 3,856 | 9 |
August | 3,846 | 9 |
September | 3,886 | 9 |
October | 3,973 | 9 |
November | 3,503 | 8 |
December | 3,485 | 8 |
Total | 42,514 | 100 |
In 2022, about half (49%) of crash deaths occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2022 | ||
---|---|---|
Day of week | Deaths | % |
Sunday | 6,618 | 16 |
Monday | 5,372 | 13 |
Tuesday | 5,265 | 12 |
Wednesday | 5,469 | 13 |
Thursday | 5,636 | 13 |
Friday | 6,472 | 15 |
Saturday | 7,682 | 18 |
Total | 42,514 | 100 |
In 2022, about one-third (32%) of crash deaths occurred between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2022 | ||
---|---|---|
Time of day | Deaths | % |
Midnight - 3 a.m. | 5,261 | 12 |
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. | 3,627 | 9 |
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. | 4,059 | 10 |
9 a.m. - noon | 3,808 | 9 |
Noon - 3 p.m. | 5,089 | 12 |
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. | 6,337 | 15 |
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. | 7,329 | 17 |
9 p.m. - midnight | 6,678 | 16 |
Total* | 42,514 | 100 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
Days of year with most motor vehicle crash deaths, 2018-2022 | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Total deaths, 2018-2022 | Yearly average |
July 4 | 716 | 143 |
September 3 | 698 | 140 |
October 30 | 684 | 137 |
September 25 | 676 | 135 |
September 18 | 675 | 135 |