With chilling precision, our roadways claimed an average of 117 lives every single day in the United States last year, a sobering reality underscored by staggering statistics that reveal not just the devastating scope of auto accidents, but the specific behaviors and circumstances that make them so tragically common.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 42,795 motor vehicle crash fatalities, a 0.3% increase from 42,939 in 2021
- Globally, road traffic crashes killed approximately 1.19 million people in 2021, with 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries
- In 2021, 38,680 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US, the highest since 2005, representing a 18% increase since 2019
- In 2022, US motor vehicle crashes injured about 2.44 million people requiring hospital treatment
- Globally, road traffic injuries caused 20-50 million non-fatal injuries annually, with many resulting in disability
- In 2021, an estimated 2.34 million people were injured in US motor vehicle crashes
- In 2022, distracted driving was a factor in 20% of all US injury crashes
- Speeding contributed to 29% of all fatal crashes and 12% of injury crashes in 2022 US
- Drunk driving accounted for 30% of all US traffic fatalities in 2022, involving 13,524 deaths
- In 2022, males comprised 71% of all US traffic fatalities
- Drivers aged 16-20 had a crash rate of 3,500 per 100 million miles in 2021, highest of any age group
- African Americans represented 25% of pedestrian deaths despite 14% population share in 2022
- In 2022, motor vehicle crashes cost the US $475.2 billion in economic costs
- Average economic cost per fatality: $1.48 million, including medical, lost work, property damage in 2022
- Lifetime medical costs for serious crash injuries: $1.1 million average per person
Motor vehicle accidents remain a devastating and costly public health crisis worldwide.
Causes
- In 2022, distracted driving was a factor in 20% of all US injury crashes
- Speeding contributed to 29% of all fatal crashes and 12% of injury crashes in 2022 US
- Drunk driving accounted for 30% of all US traffic fatalities in 2022, involving 13,524 deaths
- Distracted driving caused 3,308 deaths and 290,000 injuries in 2022 US estimates
- Failure to yield right-of-way was involved in 24% of intersection crashes in 2021
- Weather-related crashes: 21% of all crashes, but 23% fatal during snow/sleet/ice
- Red-light running caused 939 deaths and 106,000 injuries yearly average 2019-2021
- Improper lane change attributed to 8% of all US crashes in 2021
- Drowsiness/fatigue involved in 13% of fatal crashes per AAA study 2022
- Rear-end collisions, often from tailgating, made up 29% of US crashes in 2021
- Motorcycle helmet non-use increased fatality risk by 37% in crashes
- Wrong-way driving caused 400+ fatalities annually 2018-2020 average
- Roadway departure crashes: 52% of fatal crashes in 2022 US
- Seat belt non-use: unbelted occupants 47 times more likely to be ejected
- Teen driver inexperience led to 19% higher crash risk per mile driven
- Large trucks: 10% of fatal crashes but 20% of occupant deaths due to mass disparity
- Intersection-related crashes: 40% of all crashes, 22.4% of fatalities in 2021
- Phone use: texting increases crash risk by 23 times while driving
- Speeding: 26% of drivers in fatal crashes exceeded speed limit by 10+ mph
- Alcohol: BAC 0.08+ drivers twice as likely to crash fatally
- Animal-vehicle collisions: 1.5 million annually, 200 deaths 2019-2021
- Rollover risk: 3x higher for vehicles without ESC
- Nighttime crashes 3x more likely to be fatal
- Rural roads: higher fatality rate per mile, 1.9 vs 1.1 urban
- Aggressive driving: road rage in 52% of fatal crashes per AAA
- Tire-related crashes: 11,000 annually with 664 deaths 2019-2021
Causes Interpretation
The data presents a chillingly simple, self-inflicted equation: our roads are less a theater of unavoidable tragedy and more a stage where we actively choose distraction, impatience, and impairment, then act shocked when the predictable math of physics delivers its gruesome invoice.
Demographics
- In 2022, males comprised 71% of all US traffic fatalities
- Drivers aged 16-20 had a crash rate of 3,500 per 100 million miles in 2021, highest of any age group
- African Americans represented 25% of pedestrian deaths despite 14% population share in 2022
- Males aged 16-24 accounted for 27% of serious injury crashes per driver miles
- Seniors 75+ had fatality rate 4x higher per mile than middle-aged
- In urban areas, Hispanics made up 20% of fatalities vs 19% population
- Teen males 16-19: crash rate 1.5x females
- Low-income neighborhoods: 3x pedestrian death rate vs affluent
- Motorcyclists: 92% male fatalities in 2022
- Children 0-4: rear seat passengers 3x safer than front seat
- Rural residents: 20% higher fatality rate per capita
- Females: 25% of fatalities but lower mileage driven, higher per mile rate in some ages
- Young adults 21-24: highest DUI arrest rate, 25% of alcohol fatalities
- Native Americans: 2x traffic death rate vs national average
- Pickup truck drivers: 2x occupant death rate vs cars
- Night shift workers: 2x drowsy crash involvement
- Uninsured drivers involved in 13% of fatal crashes
- Immigrants: higher pedestrian risk in some studies, 1.5x rate
- Occupations: construction workers 2x crash death rate
- Students: 12-17 year olds 50% higher crash rate during school commute
- Military veterans: 1.5x higher fatal crash rate
- LGBTQ+ youth: higher pedestrian victimization
- Single parents: 30% higher crash involvement per studies
- Disabled drivers: 2x injury rate in crashes
Demographics Interpretation
While the data may appear as a mere collection of sobering statistics, it collectively paints a stark portrait of American traffic fatalities as a deeply entrenched social mirror, reflecting and magnifying existing societal disparities in age, gender, race, income, occupation, and circumstance far beyond the asphalt.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, motor vehicle crashes cost the US $475.2 billion in economic costs
- Average economic cost per fatality: $1.48 million, including medical, lost work, property damage in 2022
- Lifetime medical costs for serious crash injuries: $1.1 million average per person
- US crashes caused 4.5 million vehicle repairs costing $38 billion in 2022
- Drunk driving costs US $249 billion annually including productivity losses
- Distracted driving economic loss: $98 billion yearly in US
- Speeding crashes cost $59 billion in 2021 US economic damages
- Worker productivity loss from crashes: $277 billion in 2020
- Insurance payouts for auto claims: $170 billion in 2022 US
- Pedestrian crash societal costs: $15,000 per injury, $200,000+ per death
- Truck crash costs: $91 billion annually for large trucks in US
- Child injury crashes: $15 billion medical and productivity costs yearly
- Rollover crash costs higher by 50% due to severity
- Emergency response costs per crash: $5,000 average in urban areas
- Global road crash economic cost: 3% of GDP, $1.7 trillion yearly
- Uninsured motorist losses: $30 billion annually shifted to insured drivers
- Workplace crashes: $70 billion in costs for employee-involved accidents
- Property damage only crashes: 70% of all, costing $25 billion yearly
- Litigation costs from crashes: $40 billion in legal fees annually US
- Fuel inefficiency from crashes: $10 billion lost due to detours and delays
- Elderly crash costs: higher medical per incident, $100,000+ average
- Motorcycle crash costs: $21 billion economic impact yearly US
- Rural crash response: 2x costlier due to distance
- Seat belt non-use adds $6.2 billion in extra costs yearly
- Drowsy driving societal cost: $109 billion annually US
Economic Impact Interpretation
The United States spends nearly half a trillion dollars a year to subsidize a transportation system where human error, from distraction to drunkenness, is treated as an unavoidable and astonishingly expensive line item.
Fatalities
- In 2022, the United States recorded 42,795 motor vehicle crash fatalities, a 0.3% increase from 42,939 in 2021
- Globally, road traffic crashes killed approximately 1.19 million people in 2021, with 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries
- In 2021, 38,680 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US, the highest since 2005, representing a 18% increase since 2019
- Motorcycle fatalities in the US rose to 5,579 in 2022, accounting for 13% of all traffic deaths
- Pedestrian deaths reached 7,522 in 2022 in the US, up 1.7% from 2021 and 77% from 2013
- In 2022, 1,260 children aged 14 and under died in motor vehicle crashes in the US
- Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities totaled 13,524 in 2022 in the US, 32% of all traffic deaths
- During 2020-2021, US traffic fatalities increased by 16%, from 38,680 to 42,939
- In California, 4,258 people died in traffic crashes in 2022, the highest on record
- Globally, 2,378 deaths occur daily from road traffic crashes
- In 2021, 13,384 passenger vehicle occupants died in US crashes
- Teen drivers aged 16-19 were involved in 2,490 fatal crashes in 2021, killing 2,890 drivers and passengers
- Large truck crash deaths rose to 5,788 in 2021 in the US
- In 2022, Florida had 3,789 traffic fatalities, up 9% from 2021
- Nighttime driving accounted for 55% of all US traffic fatalities in 2022 despite only 27% of crashes occurring at night
- In 2021, 696 cyclists were killed in US motor vehicle crashes
- Rural road fatalities made up 53% of all US traffic deaths in 2022 despite rural roads comprising 65% of road miles
- In 2020, COVID-19 pandemic saw a 7.2% increase in US traffic fatalities to 38,680
- Seat belt non-use contributed to 49% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2021
- In Texas, 4,482 people died in traffic crashes in 2022
- Globally, young adults aged 15-44 account for 59% of road traffic deaths
- In 2022, 1,036 fatalities involved drivers using electronic devices in US crashes
- Interstate highway fatalities totaled 9,065 in 2021 in the US
- In 2021, 4,766 people died in speeding-related crashes in the US, 12% of all fatalities
- Male drivers accounted for 71% of all US driver fatalities in 2022
- In New York, pedestrian fatalities reached 144 in 2022, up 42% from 2019
- Rollovers caused 8,293 passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2021
- In 2022, Georgia saw 1,766 traffic deaths, a 5% increase from 2021
- Drowsy driving was reported in 18% of fatal crashes according to a 2022 NHTSA survey
- In 2021, 11,654 people died in single-vehicle crashes in the US
Fatalities Interpretation
While we’ve gotten quite good at tallying our own vehicular slaughter—from our phones, from our bottles, and from our refusal to buckle up—it seems we’ve forgotten how to simply drive home alive.
Injuries
- In 2022, US motor vehicle crashes injured about 2.44 million people requiring hospital treatment
- Globally, road traffic injuries caused 20-50 million non-fatal injuries annually, with many resulting in disability
- In 2021, an estimated 2.34 million people were injured in US motor vehicle crashes
- Traumatic brain injuries from motor vehicle crashes numbered 235,323 hospitalizations in 2021 in the US
- Whiplash injuries affected 1 million US drivers and passengers in rear-end collisions annually
- In 2022, 398,000 people suffered police-reported injuries from distracted driving crashes in the US
- Children under 14 experienced 1.1 million injuries in US vehicle crashes in 2021
- Lower extremity fractures from crashes totaled 250,000 cases per year in the US
- In 2021, 25% of crash-involved drivers reported injuries, with 6% serious, per NHTSA data
- Spinal cord injuries from motor vehicle crashes: 38% of all cases, about 17,700 annually in US
- In California, 285,000 people were injured in traffic crashes in 2022
- Elderly drivers aged 70+ had 12,000 injury crashes in 2021
- Concussions from auto accidents: 200,000 emergency visits yearly for vehicle occupants in US
- In 2022, motorcyclists suffered 84,000 injuries in US crashes
- Pedestrian injuries reached 60,000 police-reported in 2021
- Frontal crashes caused 70% of moderate-to-severe injuries to lower legs in vehicles
- In Florida, over 240,000 injury crashes occurred in 2022
- Shoulder injuries from seat belts in crashes: 15-20% of moderate injuries
- In 2021, large truck crashes injured 109,000 people in the US
- Distracted driving led to 3,142 injuries daily worldwide, extrapolated from WHO data
- Teen drivers caused 300,000 injuries to passengers aged 16-19 in 2021
- Rollover crashes resulted in 36,096 injuries in 2021 US passenger vehicles
- In Texas, 150,000+ injury-involved crashes in 2022
- Burn injuries from crashes: 4,000 serious cases annually in US
- Cyclist injuries: 131,000 in 2021 US motor vehicle involved
- Speeding-related injury crashes: 372,000 in 2021 US
- In New York, 115,000 injuries from crashes in 2022
- Alcohol-related crashes injured 335,000 people in 2022 US
- Rear-end collisions caused 29% of all US injury crashes in 2021
- In Georgia, 55,000 injury crashes in 2022
- Hand injuries from airbag deployment: 1-2% of crashes with deployment
- Drowsy driving injuries estimated at 91,000 police-reported in 2021 US
Injuries Interpretation
Behind the sterile sheen of these millions of data points lies a roaring, grinding assembly line of human misery, churning out broken bodies and shattered lives with a relentless, preventable efficiency that should shame us all.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NHTSAnhtsa.govVisit source
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- Reference 3CRASHSTATScrashstats.nhtsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 4SMARTGROWTHAMERICAsmartgrowthamerica.orgVisit source
- Reference 5GHSAghsa.orgVisit source
- Reference 6CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 7FMCSAfmcsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 8FLHSMVflhsmv.govVisit source
- Reference 9INJURYFACTSinjuryfacts.nsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 10TXDOTtxdot.govVisit source
- Reference 11VISIONZERONYvisionzerony.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 12GSPgsp.ga.govVisit source
- Reference 13IIHSiihs.orgVisit source
- Reference 14NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 15NSCISCnscisc.uab.eduVisit source
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- Reference 17OPSops.fhwa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 18NEWSROOMnewsroom.aaa.comVisit source
- Reference 19EXCHANGEexchange.aaa.comVisit source
- Reference 20VISIONZERONETWORKvisionzeronetwork.orgVisit source
- Reference 21BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 22HIGHWAYShighways.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 23VAva.govVisit source
- Reference 24THETREVORPROJECTthetrevorproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 25IIIiii.orgVisit source