FallingUpdated 4 October 2026
Trend summary
- After the pandemic-era surge, US road deaths are coming down again.
- NHTSA’s early estimate is 36,640 deaths in 2025, down 6.7% from the final 2024 count of 39,254.
- The death rate fell to 1.10 per 100 million vehicle miles, the second-lowest on record, even though people drove 0.9% more.
- The first half of 2026 fell a further 2%, to an estimated 18,460 deaths (National Safety Council).
36,640traffic deaths, 2025 (NHTSA early estimate)
−6.7%change from 2024
1.10deaths per 100m vehicle miles, 2025
18,460deaths, Jan–Jun 2026 (NSC)
What the numbers show
NHTSA counted 39,254 deaths in 2024 in its final figures and estimates 36,640 for 2025, with decreases in 39 states, DC and Puerto Rico (NHTSA). The 2025 rate of 1.10 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles compares with 1.19 in 2024.
The National Safety Council, which counts slightly differently, estimates 18,460 motor-vehicle deaths in January to June 2026, 2% below the same period of 2025, while miles driven rose 0.8%. Its mileage death rate was 1.12, down 3.4%.
What is driving it
Speeding and risky driving rose sharply in 2020 and 2021 when roads emptied, and deaths followed. The fall since then is partly that behaviour unwinding, plus enforcement campaigns on speeding, impaired and distracted driving. NHTSA notes that distracted driving still kills about one person every 2.5 hours. Pedestrian and motorcyclist deaths remain high compared with the early 2010s.
Recent cases
- 9 September 2026: NSC preliminary figures show deaths falling even as driving increased in the first half of the year.
Press releases and official reports, 2023–2026
Five key releases a year for the last four years, newest first. Most are from federal agencies; a few news reports are included where they are the clearest public record of an event. Releases from 2007–2022 are in the expandable list after 2023.
2026
- 18 Sep 2026NHTSATrump’s Transportation Department Releases First-Ever Pedestrian Safety Test Results for 2027 Vehicle Models
- 3 Sep 2026NHTSAConsumer Alert: Banned Chinese Air Bag Inflator Kills 11th Person in the U.S.
- 3 Aug 2026NHTSATrump’s Transportation Department to Invest $20 Million to Help Law Enforcement Tackle Dangerous Driving
- 21 Apr 2026NHTSATrump’s Transportation Department Launches “Pathways to Safer Streets” Initiative to Keep Americans Safe on Roadways and Reduce Traffic Fatalities
- 1 Apr 2026NHTSATrump’s Transportation Department Announces Record-Low Traffic Deaths & Fatality Rates in 2025
2025
- 9 Dec 2025NHTSANHTSA Launches Annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Enforcement Campaign for Holiday Season
- 16 Sep 2025NHTSANHTSA Reports Sharp Drop in Traffic Fatalities in First Half of 2025
- 10 Jul 2025NHTSANHTSA Announces Traffic Fatalities Decreased in the First Quarter of 2025
- 8 Apr 2025NHTSANHTSA Estimates 39,345 Traffic Fatalities in 2024
- 7 Apr 2025NHTSANHTSA Launches Put the Phone Away or Pay Campaign
2024
- 20 Dec 2024NHTSANHTSA Estimates Traffic Fatalities Declined 4.4% in the First Nine Months of 2024
- 16 Dec 2024NHTSANHTSA Finalizes Seat Belt Reminder Rule to Increase Seat Belt Use, Improve Occupant Safety
- 5 Sep 2024NHTSANHTSA Estimates Traffic Fatalities Declined in the First Half of 2024
- 24 Jun 2024NHTSANHTSA Estimates Traffic Fatalities Continued to Decline in First Quarter of 2024
- 1 Apr 2024NHTSANHTSA Launches Put the Phone Away or Pay Campaign; Releases 2023 Fatality Early Estimates
2023
- 28 Sep 2023NHTSANHTSA Estimates Traffic Fatalities Continued to Decline in the First Half of 2023
- 10 Jul 2023NHTSAAlmost One-Third of Traffic Fatalities Are Speed-Related Crashes
- 21 Jun 2023NHTSANHTSA Estimates Traffic Fatalities Dropped in the First Three Months of 2023
- 16 May 2023NHTSAHalf of All Passenger Vehicle Occupants Who Died in a Crash Were Not Buckled Up
- 20 Apr 2023NHTSANHTSA Estimates for 2022 Show Roadway Fatalities Remain Flat After Two Years of Dramatic Increases
View 20 years of major road safety press releases (2007–2026)80 more from 2007–2022, five a year, newest first
2022
- 17 May 2022NHTSANewly Released Estimates Show Traffic Fatalities Reached a 16-Year High in 2021
- May 2022NHTSADistracted Driving 2020
- Mar 2022NHTSAOverview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2020
- 8 Feb 2022NTSBMultivehicle Crash Near Mt. Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, January 5, 2020
- 20 Jan 2022IIHSIIHS creates safeguard ratings for partial automation
2021
- 28 Oct 2021NHTSAUSDOT Releases New Data Showing That Road Fatalities Spiked in First Half of 2021
- 29 Jun 2021NHTSANHTSA Orders Crash Reporting for Vehicles Equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Automated Driving Systems
- 3 Jun 2021NHTSA2020 Fatality Data Show Increased Traffic Fatalities During Pandemic
- 10 May 2021NTSBMedium-Size Bus Roadway Departure, Return, and Rollover, Bryce Canyon City, Utah, September 20, 2019
- Apr 2021NHTSADistracted Driving 2019
2020
- Dec 2020NHTSAOverview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2019
- 29 Sep 2020NTSBStretch Limousine Run-Off-Road Crash Near Schoharie, New York, October 6, 2018
- May 2020NHTSAEarly Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2019
- 31 Mar 2020NTSBVehicle Collision With Student Pedestrians Crossing High-Speed Roadway to Board School Bus, Rochester, Indiana, October 30, 2018
- 25 Feb 2020NTSBCollision Between a Sport Utility Vehicle Operating With Partial Driving Automation and a Crash Attenuator
2019
- 19 Nov 2019NTSBCollision Between Vehicle Controlled by Developmental Automated Driving System and Pedestrian
- 22 Oct 2019NHTSAU.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces Further Decreases in Roadway Fatalities
- Oct 2019NHTSA2018 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
- 18 Jun 2019NTSBSchool Bus Run-Off-Road and Fire, Oakland, Iowa, December 12, 2017
- Apr 2019NHTSADistracted Driving in Fatal Crashes, 2017
2018
- Oct 2018NHTSA2017 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
- 3 Oct 2018NHTSAU.S. DOT Announces 2017 Roadway Fatalities Down
- 25 Sep 2018NTSBPedestrian Safety
- 7 Aug 2018NTSBCollision Between Freight Train and Charter Motorcoach at High-Profile Highway–Railroad Grade Crossing, Biloxi, Mississippi, March 7, 2017
- Apr 2018NHTSADistracted Driving 2016
2017
- Oct 2017NHTSA2016 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
- 6 Oct 2017NHTSAUSDOT Releases 2016 Fatal Traffic Crash Data
- 12 Sep 2017NTSBCollision Between a Car Operating With Automated Vehicle Control Systems and a Tractor-Semitrailer Truck Near Williston, Florida, May 7, 2016
- 25 Jul 2017NTSBReducing Speeding-Related Crashes Involving Passenger Vehicles
- 19 Jan 2017NHTSAODI RESUME Investigation: PE 16-007 Close Resume
2016
- 17 Oct 2016NTSBMultivehicle Work Zone Crash on Interstate 75, Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 25, 2015
- Aug 2016NHTSA2015 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
- 8 Jul 2016CDCVital Signs: Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention — United States and 19 Comparison Countries
- Apr 2016NHTSADistracted Driving 2014
- Mar 2016NHTSA2014 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
2015
- Nov 2015NHTSA2014 Crash Data Key Findings
- 3 Nov 2015NHTSAConsent Order – In re: EA15-001 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
- 11 Aug 2015NTSBMultivehicle Work Zone Crash on Interstate 95, Cranbury, New Jersey, June 7, 2014
- 14 Jul 2015NTSBTruck-Tractor Double Trailer Median Crossover Collision With Motorcoach and Postcrash Fire on Interstate 5, Orland, California, April 10, 2014
- Apr 2015NHTSADistracted Driving 2013
2014
- Dec 2014NHTSA2013 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
- 24 Oct 2014IIHSBans reduce phone use, but what about crashes?
- 15 Jul 2014NTSBCollapse of the Interstate 5 Skagit River Bridge Following a Strike by an Oversize Combination Vehicle, Mount Vernon, Washington, May 23, 2013
- 16 May 2014U.S. DOTU.S. Department of Transportation Announces Record Fines, Unprecedented Oversight Requirements in GM Investigation
- Apr 2014NHTSADistracted Driving 2012
2013
- Nov 2013NHTSA2012 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
- 5 Nov 2013NTSBHighway–Railroad Grade Crossing Collision, Midland, Texas, November 15, 2012
- 23 Jul 2013NTSBSchool Bus and Truck Collision at Intersection Near Chesterfield, New Jersey, February 16, 2012
- 14 May 2013NTSBReaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Alcohol-Impaired Driving
- 15 Mar 2013CDCMobile Device Use While Driving — United States and Seven European Countries, 2011
2012
- Dec 2012NHTSA2011 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
- 5 Oct 2012CDCVital Signs: Drinking and Driving Among High School Students Aged ≥16 Years — United States, 1991–2011
- 31 Jul 2012NTSBMotorcoach Roadway Departure and Overturn on Interstate 95 Near Doswell, Virginia, May 31, 2011
- 5 Jun 2012NTSBMotorcoach Run-Off-the-Road and Collision With Vertical Highway Signpost, Interstate 95 Southbound, New York City, New York, March 12, 2011
- Feb 2012NHTSA2010 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
2011
- 7 Oct 2011CDCVital Signs: Alcohol-Impaired Driving Among Adults — United States, 2010
- 13 Sep 2011NTSBTruck-Tractor Semitrailer Median Crossover Collision With 15-Passenger Van
- 26 Jul 2011NTSBRollover of a Truck-Tractor and Cargo Tank Semitrailer Carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Subsequent Fire
- Apr 2011NHTSAEarly Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2010
- Feb 2011NHTSATechnical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems
2010
- 28 Sep 2010NTSBTruck-Tractor Semitrailer Rear-End Collision Into Passenger Vehicles on Interstate 44 Near Miami, Oklahoma June 26, 2009
- Sep 2010NHTSADistracted Driving 2009
- Aug 2010NHTSAHighlights of 2009 Motor Vehicle Crashes
- 22 Jun 2010NTSBBus Loss of Control and Rollover, Dolan Springs, Arizona, January 30, 2009
- 20 May 2010IIHSLow-speed vehicles and minitrucks shouldn’t share busy public roads with regular traffic
2009
- 27 Oct 2009NTSBMotorcoach Run-Off-the-Bridge and Rollover, Sherman, Texas, August 8, 2008
- Sep 2009NHTSADriver Electronic Device Use in 2008
- Jun 2009NHTSA2008 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment – Highlights
- 21 Apr 2009NTSBMotorcoach Run-Off-the-Road and Rollover, U.S. Route 163, Mexican Hat, Utah, January 6, 2008
- Mar 2009NHTSAEarly Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2008
2008
- 14 Nov 2008NTSBCollapse of I-35W Highway Bridge, Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 1, 2007
- 16 Sep 2008NTSBTruck-Tractor Semitrailer Rollover and Motorcoach Collision With Overturned Truck, Interstate Highway 94, Near Osseo, Wisconsin, October 16, 2005
- Aug 2008NHTSA2007 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment – Highlights
- Aug 2008NHTSA2007 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment – Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities
- 8 Jul 2008NTSBMotorcoach Override of Elevated Exit Ramp, Interstate 75, Atlanta, Georgia, March 2, 2007
2007
- Sep 2007NHTSA2006 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Crashes
- 10 Jul 2007NTSBCeiling Collapse in the Interstate 90 Connector Tunnel, Boston, Massachusetts, July 10, 2006
- Jul 2007NHTSA2006 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment – A Preview
- Jul 2007NHTSADriver Cell Phone Use in 2006 — Overall Results
- 21 Feb 2007NTSBMotorcoach Fire on Interstate 45 During Hurricane Rita Evacuation Near Wilmer, Texas, September 23, 2005
Photo list
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.