Urban and rural areas have fundamentally different characteristics with regard to density of road networks, land use and travel patterns. Consequently, the characteristics of fatal motor vehicle crashes differ between rural and urban areas. For example, pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and deaths at intersections are more prevalent in urban areas, whereas a larger proportion of large truck occupant deaths and deaths on high-speed roads occur in rural areas. Although 20% of people in the U.S. live in rural areas (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023) and 32% of the vehicle miles traveled occur in rural areas (Federal Highway Administration, 2024), 41% of crash deaths occur there.
The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). In FARS, rural and urban boundaries are determined by state highway departments and approved by the Federal Highway Administration. Reliable information on rural and urban areas has been available in FARS since 1977.
Posted June 2024.
Trends
A total of 42,514 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2022. Since 2000, there has been a downward trend in the proportion of crash deaths in rural areas, from 61% in 2000 to 41% in 2022.
Distribution of motor vehicle crash deaths by land use, 1977-2022
Motor vehicle crash deaths by land use, 1977-2022
Urban
Rural
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
1977
19,296
40
28,463
60
47,878
100
1978
19,863
40
30,018
60
50,331
100
1979
21,507
42
29,135
58
51,093
100
1980
21,560
43
29,114
57
51,091
100
1981
20,782
43
27,692
57
49,301
100
1982
18,678
43
25,005
57
43,945
100
1983
18,027
42
24,486
58
42,589
100
1984
18,590
42
25,636
58
44,257
100
1985
18,613
42
25,185
58
43,825
100
1986
19,581
43
26,484
57
46,087
100
1987
19,217
41
27,131
59
46,390
100
1988
19,253
41
27,793
59
47,087
100
1989
19,160
42
26,392
58
45,582
100
1990
18,807
42
25,761
58
44,599
100
1991
17,126
41
24,328
59
41,508
100
1992
16,223
42
22,821
58
39,250
100
1993
16,429
41
23,459
59
40,150
100
1994
16,811
41
23,841
59
40,716
100
1995
17,163
41
24,449
59
41,817
100
1996
17,368
41
24,561
59
42,065
100
1997
16,829
40
25,135
60
42,013
100
1998
16,219
39
25,185
61
41,501
100
1999
16,059
39
25,547
61
41,717
100
2000
16,116
39
24,835
61
41,945
100
2001
16,990
40
25,148
60
42,196
100
2002
17,013
40
25,896
60
43,005
100
2003
17,783
42
24,957
58
42,884
100
2004
17,581
41
25,179
59
42,836
100
2005
18,627
43
24,587
57
43,510
100
2006
18,791
44
23,646
56
42,708
100
2007
17,908
44
23,254
56
41,259
100
2008
16,218
44
20,987
56
37,423
100
2009
14,501
43
19,323
57
33,883
100
2010
14,659
45
18,089
55
32,999
100
2011
14,575
45
17,769
55
32,479
100
2012
15,371
46
18,367
54
33,782
100
2013
15,119
46
17,740
54
32,894
100
2014
15,917
49
16,791
51
32,744
100
2015
16,830
49
17,572
51
35,485
100
2016
19,357
51
18,321
49
37,806
100
2017
19,976
53
17,405
47
37,473
100
2018
20,408
56
16,323
44
36,835
100
2019
19,946
55
16,288
45
36,355
100
2020
22,513
58
16,340
42
39,007
100
2021
25,749
60
17,339
40
43,230
100
2022
25,023
59
17,283
41
42,514
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths by land use, 1977-2022
Urban
Rural
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
In 2022, the rate of crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled was much higher in rural areas than in urban areas (1.68 in rural areas compared with 1.15 in urban areas). From 1977 to 2022, the rates decreased by 61% in rural areas (from 4.35 to 1.68) and 51% in urban areas (from 2.35 to 1.15).
Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled by land use, 1977-2022
Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled by land use, 1977-2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
Miles traveled (millions)
Rate
Deaths
Miles traveled (millions)
Rate
Deaths
Miles traveled (millions)
Rate
1977
28,463
654,596
4.35
19,296
821,971
2.35
47,878
1,476,567
3.24
1978
30,018
689,953
4.35
19,863
858,260
2.31
50,331
1,548,213
3.25
1979
29,135
670,079
4.35
21,507
859,054
2.50
51,093
1,529,133
3.34
1980
29,114
672,030
4.33
21,560
855,265
2.52
51,091
1,527,295
3.35
1981
27,692
688,308
4.02
20,782
867,000
2.40
49,301
1,555,308
3.17
1982
25,005
689,226
3.63
18,678
905,784
2.06
43,945
1,595,010
2.76
1983
24,486
700,517
3.50
18,027
952,271
1.89
42,589
1,652,788
2.58
1984
25,636
718,132
3.57
18,590
1,002,137
1.86
44,257
1,720,269
2.57
1985
25,185
730,728
3.45
18,613
1,044,098
1.78
43,825
1,774,826
2.47
1986
26,484
747,780
3.54
19,581
1,087,092
1.80
46,087
1,834,872
2.51
1987
27,131
780,450
3.48
19,217
1,140,754
1.68
46,390
1,921,204
2.41
1988
27,793
817,534
3.40
19,253
1,208,428
1.59
47,087
2,025,962
2.32
1989
26,392
847,225
3.12
19,160
1,249,262
1.53
45,582
2,096,487
2.17
1990
25,761
868,878
2.96
18,807
1,275,484
1.47
44,599
2,144,362
2.08
1991
24,328
883,553
2.75
17,126
1,288,497
1.33
41,508
2,172,050
1.91
1992
22,821
884,097
2.58
16,223
1,363,054
1.19
39,250
2,247,151
1.75
1993
23,459
886,706
2.65
16,429
1,409,672
1.17
40,150
2,296,378
1.75
1994
23,841
908,341
2.62
16,811
1,449,247
1.16
40,716
2,357,588
1.73
1995
24,449
933,285
2.62
17,163
1,489,490
1.15
41,817
2,422,775
1.73
1996
24,561
960,194
2.56
17,368
1,523,886
1.14
42,065
2,484,080
1.69
1997
25,135
999,920
2.51
16,829
1,560,452
1.08
42,013
2,560,372
1.64
1998
25,185
1,033,310
2.44
16,219
1,592,057
1.02
41,501
2,625,367
1.58
1999
25,547
1,062,623
2.40
16,059
1,627,618
0.99
41,717
2,690,241
1.55
2000
24,835
1,083,152
2.29
16,116
1,663,773
0.97
41,945
2,746,925
1.53
2001
25,148
1,110,697
2.26
16,990
1,686,642
1.01
42,196
2,797,339
1.51
2002
25,896
1,128,160
2.30
17,013
1,727,596
0.98
43,005
2,855,756
1.51
2003
24,957
1,085,385
2.30
17,783
1,805,508
0.98
42,884
2,890,893
1.48
2004
25,179
1,070,248
2.35
17,581
1,892,265
0.93
42,836
2,962,513
1.45
2005
24,587
1,037,937
2.37
18,627
1,951,870
0.95
43,510
2,989,807
1.46
2006
23,646
1,037,069
2.28
18,791
1,977,047
0.95
42,708
3,014,116
1.42
2007
23,254
1,035,303
2.25
17,908
1,994,519
0.90
41,259
3,029,822
1.36
2008
20,987
990,418
2.12
16,218
1,983,091
0.82
37,423
2,973,509
1.26
2009
19,323
982,180
1.97
14,501
1,974,583
0.73
33,883
2,956,763
1.15
2010
18,089
984,065
1.84
14,659
1,983,200
0.74
32,999
2,967,265
1.11
2011
17,769
974,038
1.82
14,575
1,972,094
0.74
32,479
2,946,132
1.10
2012
18,367
977,078
1.88
15,371
1,992,355
0.77
33,782
2,969,433
1.14
2013
17,740
941,912
1.88
15,119
2,046,369
0.74
32,894
2,988,281
1.10
2014
16,791
920,928
1.82
15,917
2,104,728
0.76
32,744
3,025,656
1.08
2015
17,572
928,905
1.89
16,830
2,166,468
0.78
35,485
3,095,373
1.15
2016
18,321
949,545
1.93
19,357
2,224,863
0.87
37,806
3,174,408
1.19
2017
17,405
963,206
1.81
19,976
2,249,142
0.89
37,473
3,212,348
1.17
2018
16,323
978,802
1.67
20,408
2,261,525
0.90
36,835
3,240,327
1.14
2019
16,288
983,853
1.66
19,946
2,277,919
0.88
36,355
3,261,772
1.11
2020
16,340
903,527
1.81
22,513
2,000,095
1.13
39,007
2,903,622
1.34
2021
17,339
991,986
1.75
25,749
2,148,102
1.20
43,230
3,140,088
1.38
2022
17,283
1,025,711
1.68
25,023
2,170,481
1.15
42,514
3,196,192
1.33
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled by land use, 1977-2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
Miles traveled (millions)
Rate
Deaths
Miles traveled (millions)
Rate
Deaths
Miles traveled (millions)
Rate
Vehicle types
In 2022, 68% of large truck occupant deaths and 65% of pickup occupant deaths occurred in rural areas, whereas more than 80% of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths occurred in urban areas. Motorcyclists were more likely to die in urban than in rural areas.
Motor vehicle crash deaths by vehicle type and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Cars and minivans
6,050
44
7,749
56
13,820
100
Pickups
3,037
65
1,646
35
4,701
100
SUVs
3,380
50
3,394
50
6,803
100
Large trucks
557
68
266
32
823
100
Motorcycles
2,113
34
4,096
66
6,222
100
Pedestrians
1,139
15
6,323
84
7,522
100
Bicyclists
188
17
889
82
1,084
100
Total*
17,283
41
25,023
59
42,514
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths by vehicle type and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Crash types
In 2022, single-vehicle crashes accounted for 53% of crash deaths occurring in both rural and urban areas.
Motor vehicle crash deaths by crash type and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Single-vehicle crashes
9,079
53
13,314
53
22,573
53
Multiple-vehicle crashes
8,204
47
11,709
47
19,941
47
Total
17,283
100
25,023
100
42,514
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths by crash type and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Where crashes occur
Compared with urban areas, crash deaths in rural areas in 2022 were less likely to occur on interstates and freeways (14% versus 21%) and on other arterial roads (24% versus 58%) and more likely to occur on collector roads (43% versus 11%) and local roads (19% versus 10%).
Motor vehicle crash deaths by road functional class and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Interstates and freeways
2,351
14
5,133
21
7,484
18
Arterial
4,115
24
14,626
58
18,741
44
Collector
7,472
43
2,712
11
10,184
24
Local
3,220
19
2,512
10
5,732
13
Total*
17,283
100
25,023
100
42,514
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths by road functional class and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
In 2022, 16% of crash deaths in rural areas occurred at intersections, compared with 32% in urban areas.
Motor vehicle crash deaths by junction type and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Intersection
2,761
16
7,886
32
10,672
25
Nonintersection
14,522
84
17,137
68
31,842
75
Total*
17,283
100
25,023
100
42,514
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths by junction type and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
In 2022, 71% of crash deaths in rural areas occurred on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or higher. By comparison, 29% of crash deaths in urban areas occurred on these roads.
Motor vehicle crash deaths by speed limit and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
≤35 mph
1,423
8
7,416
30
8,915
21
40-50 mph
2,970
17
8,847
35
11,834
28
55+ mph
12,322
71
7,338
29
19,669
46
Total*
17,283
100
25,023
100
42,514
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths by speed limit and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Total*
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Speeding
Speeding has been involved in more than a quarter of motor vehicle crash deaths in both rural and urban areas over the past decade. In 2022, 28% of crash deaths in rural areas and 29% in urban areas involved speeding. Speeding is defined to include crashes in which a 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 by land use, 2013-2022
Rural
Urban
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
2013
5,376
30
12,364
70
17,740
100
4,311
29
10,808
71
15,119
100
2014
4,905
29
11,886
71
16,791
100
4,367
27
11,550
73
15,917
100
2015
4,826
27
12,746
73
17,572
100
4,504
27
12,326
73
16,830
100
2016
5,116
28
13,205
72
18,321
100
5,150
27
14,207
73
19,357
100
2017
4,740
27
12,665
73
17,405
100
5,183
26
14,793
74
19,976
100
2018
4,341
27
11,982
73
16,323
100
5,212
26
15,196
74
20,408
100
2019
4,358
27
11,930
73
16,288
100
5,209
26
14,737
74
19,946
100
2020
4,659
29
11,681
71
16,340
100
6,718
30
15,795
70
22,513
100
2021
4,873
28
12,466
72
17,339
100
7,591
29
18,158
71
25,749
100
2022
4,805
28
12,478
72
17,283
100
7,319
29
17,704
71
25,023
100
Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding by land use, 2013-2022
Rural
Urban
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
In 2022, on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or higher, speeding was a factor in similar proportions of crash deaths in rural (26%) and urban areas (27%). On roads with lower speed limits, speeding was more likely to be a factor in rural crash deaths.
Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding by speed limit and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
≤35 mph
576
40
847
60
1,423
100
2,454
33
4,962
67
7,416
100
40-50 mph
961
32
2,009
68
2,970
100
2,498
28
6,349
72
8,847
100
55+ mph
3,159
26
9,163
74
12,322
100
2,011
27
5,327
73
7,338
100
Total*
4,805
28
12,478
72
17,283
100
7,319
29
17,704
71
25,023
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding by speed limit and land use, 2022
Rural
Urban
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Alcohol
From 1982 to 1994, the percentage of fatally injured drivers with BACs at or above 0.08% declined steadily from 49% in both rural and urban areas to 34% in rural areas and to 32% in urban areas. This percentage has not changed much since 1994 and was 29% in rural areas and 31% in urban areas in 2022.
In urban areas, the percentage of fatally injured pedestrians ages 16 and older with BACs at or above 0.08% declined from 40% in 1982 to 30% in 2022, a 25% reduction. In rural areas, the percentage declined from 53% in 1982 to 31% in 2022, a reduction of 43%.
Percent distribution of fatally injured people with BACs ≥ 0.08% by type and land use, 1982-2022
Estimated number and percent of fatally injured people with BACs ≥ 0.08% by land use, 1982-2022
Rural
Urban
Drivers
Pedestrians (age ≥16)
Drivers
Pedestrians (age ≥16)
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
1982
15,155
7,486
49
2,076
1,110
53
9,388
4,589
49
3,995
1,598
40
1983
14,958
7,122
48
1,922
1,016
53
9,137
4,404
48
3,760
1,507
40
1984
15,979
7,175
45
1,984
975
49
9,591
4,314
45
3,898
1,508
39
1985
15,610
6,611
42
1,815
882
49
9,711
4,072
42
3,845
1,447
38
1986
16,401
7,070
43
1,819
871
48
10,215
4,336
42
3,847
1,430
37
1987
16,776
6,996
42
1,774
813
46
10,035
4,055
40
3,894
1,391
36
1988
17,393
7,261
42
1,847
832
45
9,834
3,828
39
3,950
1,369
35
1989
16,606
6,701
40
1,632
758
46
9,767
3,929
40
4,000
1,459
36
1990
16,223
6,644
41
1,577
731
46
9,511
3,746
39
3,984
1,433
36
1991
15,285
6,182
40
1,460
667
46
8,615
3,290
38
3,476
1,255
36
1992
14,307
5,501
38
1,362
619
45
8,161
2,910
36
3,408
1,257
37
1993
14,795
5,368
36
1,404
609
43
8,189
2,910
36
3,398
1,279
38
1994
15,078
5,188
34
1,303
565
43
8,576
2,713
32
3,372
1,168
35
1995
15,469
5,436
35
1,403
600
43
8,795
2,830
32
3,408
1,204
35
1996
15,519
5,276
34
1,335
588
44
8,923
2,875
32
3,380
1,241
37
1997
16,008
5,127
32
1,385
541
39
8,635
2,710
31
3,276
1,110
34
1998
16,180
5,228
32
1,402
568
40
8,520
2,595
30
3,216
1,127
35
1999
16,721
5,321
32
1,316
534
41
8,462
2,573
30
3,033
1,126
37
2000
16,205
5,248
32
1,203
486
40
8,705
2,701
31
2,962
1,045
35
2001
16,646
5,356
32
1,297
513
40
9,186
2,885
31
3,107
1,067
34
2002
17,262
5,562
32
1,279
500
39
9,341
2,942
31
3,123
1,095
35
2003
16,795
5,232
31
1,141
453
40
9,892
3,101
31
3,180
1,117
35
2004
16,943
5,157
30
1,148
436
38
9,885
2,985
30
3,122
1,113
36
2005
16,693
5,225
31
1,121
434
39
10,599
3,218
30
3,360
1,139
34
2006
16,350
5,124
31
1,145
460
40
10,831
3,406
31
3,242
1,200
37
2007
16,098
5,182
32
1,142
473
41
10,412
3,414
33
3,189
1,129
35
2008
14,652
4,740
32
1,113
460
41
9,459
3,166
33
2,970
1,093
37
2009
13,472
4,405
33
1,052
403
38
8,331
2,794
34
2,763
1,001
36
2010
12,569
3,852
31
1,053
410
39
8,321
2,672
32
2,926
1,001
34
2011
12,498
3,873
31
1,083
436
40
8,229
2,628
32
3,100
1,116
36
2012
12,920
4,072
32
1,190
445
37
8,549
2,654
31
3,323
1,191
36
2013
12,405
3,830
31
1,199
463
39
8,523
2,712
32
3,305
1,137
34
2014
11,864
3,659
31
1,033
372
36
8,906
2,721
31
3,633
1,238
34
2015
12,322
3,385
27
1,137
393
35
9,388
2,729
29
3,871
1,318
34
2016
12,871
3,467
27
1,186
382
32
10,788
3,191
30
4,576
1,600
35
2017
12,487
3,416
27
1,097
344
31
11,231
3,232
29
4,701
1,546
33
2018
11,722
3,154
27
1,074
346
32
11,274
3,177
28
5,067
1,685
33
2019
11,686
3,213
27
1,023
301
29
11,000
3,161
29
5,005
1,622
32
2020
11,919
3,430
29
1,059
296
28
12,852
3,755
29
5,277
1,653
31
2021
12,730
3,699
29
1,095
334
31
14,753
4,462
30
6,132
1,868
30
2022
12,645
3,639
29
1,091
334
31
14,095
4,335
31
6,156
1,850
30
Estimated number and percent of fatally injured people with BACs ≥ 0.08% by land use, 1982-2022
Rural
Urban
Drivers
Pedestrians (age ≥16)
Drivers
Pedestrians (age ≥16)
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Seat belt use
According to a national daytime observational survey of motorists in 2022, seat belt use among front seat occupants was 91% in rural areas and 92% in urban areas (NHTSA, 2022). 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. In 2022, 44% of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants 13 and older in both rural and urban areas were belted.
Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants 13 and older by land use, 2013-2022
Rural
Urban
Belt used
Unbelted
Unknown
Belt used
Unbelted
Unknown
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
2013
5,714
45
6,184
49
846
7
3,778
47
3,273
41
911
11
2014
5,565
46
5,871
48
729
6
4,031
48
3,382
41
932
11
2015
5,929
47
5,987
47
813
6
4,205
48
3,537
40
1,024
12
2016
6,183
47
6,232
47
825
6
4,740
48
4,063
41
1,130
11
2017
5,956
47
5,814
46
853
7
5,172
49
4,153
39
1,196
11
2018
5,535
47
5,512
47
793
7
5,166
49
4,217
40
1,148
11
2019
5,629
48
5,339
46
760
6
4,949
49
4,053
40
1,166
11
2020
5,025
43
5,662
49
869
8
5,212
44
5,129
43
1,565
13
2021
5,560
44
6,016
48
945
8
5,976
44
5,752
43
1,715
13
2022
5,487
44
5,859
47
1,000
8
5,632
44
5,395
42
1,680
13
Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants 13 and older by land use, 2013-2022