Mostly fallingUpdated 4 October 2026
Trend summary
- Roads are where almost all US transport deaths happen, and they are falling: an estimated 36,640 in 2025, down 6.7%.
- Recreational boating deaths reached a 50-year low of 556 in 2024.
- Aviation is safe overall but in the spotlight after the 2025 Potomac collision and the 2026 Miami cargo crash.
FallingRoad
36,640 deaths in 2025 (early estimate), down 6.7%; first half of 2026 down another 2%.
FallingMaritime
556 recreational boating deaths in 2024, the fewest in 50 years; fishing still deadly.
Under reviewAviation
Rare but high-profile: the Potomac collision inquiry and the Miami cargo overrun.
How this page is built. Figures come from the official statistical releases linked above; where agencies publish preliminary numbers we say so, because they are revised. Photos are public-domain or Creative Commons images credited in each caption; file photos are illustrative and are not from the events described unless the caption says so. This page tracks trends and is not personal safety, medical, legal or financial advice.