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.
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 and deaths per 100,000 people, 1975-2022
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 per 100,000 people by type, 1975-2022
Year
Deaths
Population
Rate per 100k persons
Miles traveled (millions)
Rate per 100 million miles
Sixty-one percent of crash fatalities in 2022 were passenger vehicle occupants, 18% were pedestrians, 15% were motorcyclists, 3% were bicyclists, and 2% were occupants of large trucks.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 seating position, 1995-2022
Year
Driver
Passenger
Belt used
Unbelted
Unknown
Belt used
Unbelted
Unknown
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
In 2022, the highest number (14,860) of fatality injured occupants were involved in frontal impacts, and among these individuals, less than half (44%) were belted. More than half of fatally injured occupants in side and rear crashes were belted. In other crashes, mostly involving rollovers, only 23% of fatality injured occupants were belted.
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
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
%
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
Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor, 2012-2022
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Number
%
Number
%
Number
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
Crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor by road type, 2022
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Number
%
Number
%
Number
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
Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor by speed limit, 2022
Speeding-related
Not speeding-related
Total
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
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.
Distracted drivers in fatal crashes during 2022, by distraction type
Distraction type
Number
%
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
Motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2022
Month
Deaths
%
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
Motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2022
Day of week
Deaths
%
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
Motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2022
Time of day
Deaths
%
Independence Day (July 4) typically is one of the days of the year with the most motor vehicle crash deaths (Weast, 2018).
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
Days of year with most motor vehicle crash deaths, 2018-2022