While a slight decrease in U.S. traffic deaths offers a fragile glimmer of hope, the staggering reality is that over 42,500 lives were still lost on American roads in 2022, a number eclipsed by a global epidemic of 1.19 million annual fatalities that disproportionately devastates low- and middle-income nations.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 42,514 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes, a 0.3% decrease from 42,939 in 2021.
- Globally, road traffic crashes killed 1.19 million people in 2021, with 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
- In 2021, 38,680 people died in U.S. traffic fatalities, the highest since 2005.
- In 2021, 5.25 million people were injured in U.S. police-reported motor vehicle crashes.
- Serious injuries from U.S. crashes totaled 444,784 in 2021.
- Globally, 20-50 million non-fatal injuries occur annually from road traffic crashes.
- In 2021, human error caused 93% of U.S. car crashes.
- Distracted driving contributed to 8% of fatal crashes in U.S. 2021.
- Alcohol impairment was involved in 30% of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2021.
- In 2021, drivers aged 16-20 had highest crash rate per mile driven.
- Males aged 16-24: 3x higher fatal crash risk than females.
- Drivers over 80: fatal crash rate 4x higher per mile.
- In 2021, U.S. motor vehicle crashes cost $340 billion in economic losses.
- Average economic cost per U.S. traffic fatality: $1.48 million in 2021.
- Medical costs for crash injuries: $37.5 billion annually in U.S.
U.S. traffic deaths remain devastatingly high with pedestrians and impaired driving as major dangers.
Causes
- In 2021, human error caused 93% of U.S. car crashes.
- Distracted driving contributed to 8% of fatal crashes in U.S. 2021.
- Alcohol impairment was involved in 30% of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2021.
- Speeding played a role in 29% of U.S. fatal crashes in 2021.
- Failure to yield caused 23% of U.S. intersection crashes in 2021.
- Drowsy driving leads to 6,000 fatal crashes annually in U.S.
- Rear-end collisions account for 28% of all U.S. crashes.
- Red-light running causes 900 U.S. deaths yearly.
- Wrong-way driving incidents: 400 fatalities per year in U.S.
- Tire-related crashes: 11,000 annually in U.S.
- Roadway departure crashes: 53% of U.S. fatalities in 2021.
- Weather-related crashes: 21% of total U.S. crashes.
- Aggressive driving involved in 56% of fatal crashes.
- Cell phone use causes 1.6 million U.S. crashes yearly.
- Unbelted occupants: 50% more likely to be killed.
- Motorcycle lane splitting increases crash risk by 1.4 times.
- Hit-and-run crashes: 2,000 deaths in U.S. 2021.
- Overloaded vehicles contribute to 10% of heavy truck crashes.
- Poor road design causes 34% of U.S. crashes.
- Texting while driving increases crash risk by 23 times.
- DUI crashes peak between 12 AM and 3 AM.
- Animal collisions: 1.5 million U.S. crashes yearly.
- Brake problems cause 2% of U.S. crashes.
Causes Interpretation
It seems the "autopilot" function of the average driver is astonishingly flawed, as the vast majority of our automotive carnage boils down to a lethal cocktail of distraction, intoxication, impatience, and sheer carelessness—with our own poor decisions being the most dangerous feature on the road.
Demographics
- In 2021, drivers aged 16-20 had highest crash rate per mile driven.
- Males aged 16-24: 3x higher fatal crash risk than females.
- Drivers over 80: fatal crash rate 4x higher per mile.
- In 2021, 25% of U.S. fatalities were drivers aged 20-29.
- African American pedestrians: 2.5x higher death rate.
- Teens 16-17: crash involvement rate 3x adults.
- Rural males: highest fatality rate at 24.6 per 100k.
- Women drivers: 20% less likely to speed fatally.
- Hispanic drivers: 13% of population, 16% fatalities 2021.
- Drivers 85+: involvement in 10% of fatal crashes.
- Young males 18-24: DUI arrest rate 2x females.
- Children 0-4: rear seat safest, injury risk 78% lower.
- Urban females: lower crash rates than males.
- Seniors 65+: 18% of fatalities despite 10% drivers.
- Teen passengers increase crash risk 62% for teen drivers.
- Native American fatality rate: 28 per 100k, highest.
- Males under 34: 70% of speeding deaths.
- Female motorcyclists: lower fatal crash rate than males.
- Drivers 25-34: highest DUI fatality involvement.
- Asian Americans: lowest fatality rate at 3.5 per 100k.
- Single teen drivers safer than with peers.
- Elderly women: higher pedestrian death risk.
- Commercial drivers: 7% of fatalities, 3% workforce.
Demographics Interpretation
The data paints a grim portrait of the road as a stage where inexperience, age, risk-taking, and systemic inequities are the leading actors in a preventable tragedy.
Economic Impact
- In 2021, U.S. motor vehicle crashes cost $340 billion in economic losses.
- Average economic cost per U.S. traffic fatality: $1.48 million in 2021.
- Medical costs for crash injuries: $37.5 billion annually in U.S.
- Property damage from crashes: $47 billion in U.S. 2021.
- Drunk driving costs U.S. $134 billion yearly.
- Global road crash economic cost: $1.7 trillion, 2.3% GDP.
- U.S. lost productivity from crashes: $277 billion in 2020.
- Insurance payouts for auto crashes: $170 billion in 2022.
- Speeding crashes cost $59 billion in U.S. annually.
- Distracted driving economic loss: $98 billion per year U.S.
- Truck crash costs: $91 billion annually in U.S.
- Pedestrian crash costs: $15,000 average per incident.
- U.S. crash congestion costs: $87 billion yearly.
- Workplace absenteeism from injuries: $28 billion.
- Child injury costs: $13 billion annually U.S.
- Motorcycle crash average cost: $113,000 per serious injury.
- Seatbelt non-use adds $6.2 billion in extra costs.
- U.S. fatality cost rose 7% from 2020 to 2021.
- Low-income countries: crash costs 5% of GDP.
- Average U.S. crash claim: $4,436 in 2022.
- Rollover crash costs higher by 40% due to severity.
- Nighttime crash economic impact: 2x daytime costs.
- Rural crash costs: $242 billion over 10 years.
- U.S. traffic deaths cost 1.2 million lives since 1975, $12 trillion.
- Helmet laws save $3 billion in medical costs yearly.
- Intersection improvements save $500,000 per fatality prevented.
Economic Impact Interpretation
Behind these staggering figures lies a brutal economic truth: our roadways are a shockingly expensive, high-stakes casino where every reckless bet is subsidized by society.
Fatalities
- In 2022, 42,514 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes, a 0.3% decrease from 42,939 in 2021.
- Globally, road traffic crashes killed 1.19 million people in 2021, with 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
- In 2021, 38,680 people died in U.S. traffic fatalities, the highest since 2005.
- Males accounted for 71% of all motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S. in 2021.
- In 2020, 38,824 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S., down 2% from 2019.
- Teen drivers aged 16-19 had a fatal crash rate of 5.70 per 100,000 population in 2021.
- In 2022, California recorded 4,258 traffic fatalities, the highest in the nation.
- Pedestrian deaths reached 7,522 in the U.S. in 2022, up 77% since 2010.
- Motorcycle fatalities in the U.S. rose to 5,579 in 2021.
- In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the U.S., 31% of total fatalities.
- U.S. traffic deaths increased by 16% from 2019 to 2022.
- In Europe, 19,200 people died in road crashes in 2022.
- Occupant deaths in passenger vehicles totaled 22,846 in the U.S. in 2021.
- In 2022, Florida had 3,567 traffic fatalities.
- Global road traffic death rate was 15.6 per 100,000 population in 2021.
- U.S. fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.33 in 2022.
- Bicyclist fatalities in the U.S. hit 1,105 in 2022.
- In 2021, 691 children aged 12 and under died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes.
- Texas reported 4,481 traffic deaths in 2022.
- Nighttime driving accounted for 55% of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2021.
- In 2023 Q1-Q3, U.S. fatalities totaled 29,257.
- India had 153,972 road accident deaths in 2022.
- U.S. rural road fatalities were 19,612 in 2021, 52% of total.
- Senior citizens over 65 had 7,369 deaths in crashes in 2021.
- In 2022, Georgia saw 1,725 traffic fatalities.
- Helmet non-use contributed to 41% of motorcyclist deaths in 2021.
- U.S. intersection-related fatalities numbered 9,645 in 2021.
- Brazil recorded 31,635 road deaths in 2021.
- In 2021, rollover crashes killed 5,072 in the U.S.
- Australia had 1,194 road fatalities in 2022.
Fatalities Interpretation
We have a chilling talent for turning our greatest convenience into a mass casualty event, where a simple drive can become a lethal gamble shaped by geography, age, poor choices, and the time of day.
Injuries
- In 2021, 5.25 million people were injured in U.S. police-reported motor vehicle crashes.
- Serious injuries from U.S. crashes totaled 444,784 in 2021.
- Globally, 20-50 million non-fatal injuries occur annually from road traffic crashes.
- In 2022, U.S. crashes caused an estimated 2.3 million emergency department visits.
- Traumatic brain injuries from motor vehicle crashes: 162,000 hospitalizations in 2020.
- In 2021, 1.77 million drivers were injured in U.S. crashes.
- Pedestrian injuries reached 70,000 serious cases in U.S. 2021.
- Whiplash injuries from rear-end crashes: over 1 million annually in U.S.
- In 2020, U.S. motor vehicle crashes led to 2.3 million hospital visits.
- Motorcycle crash injuries: 83,000 in U.S. 2021.
- Children under 14: 1.2 million injured in U.S. crashes 2016-2020 average.
- Spinal cord injuries from crashes: 17,000 new cases yearly in U.S.
- In 2021, 395,710 people were injured in alcohol-impaired crashes.
- U.S. seatbelt non-use led to 49% higher injury risk in crashes.
- Cyclist injuries in U.S.: 130,000 emergency visits in 2021.
- Rear-end crashes cause 29% of U.S. injury crashes.
- In 2022, California reported 272,441 crash injuries.
- Global road crash injuries cost 3% of GDP in low-income countries.
- U.S. teen drivers injured at rate of 51 per 100 drivers in 2021.
- Intersection injuries: 1 million annually in U.S.
- Older drivers 70+: injury rate 250 per 100,000 licensed drivers.
- Distracted driving injuries: 424,000 in U.S. 2021.
- Rollover injuries: 16% of serious passenger injuries in 2021.
- Florida injury crashes: 225,000 in 2022.
- Head injuries from non-helmeted motorcyclists: 37% higher.
- Nighttime crash injuries 2x higher than daytime per mile.
- U.S. rural injuries: 1.5 million in 2021.
- Seatbelt use reduces injury risk by 50% for front-seat occupants.
- Drunk driving caused 30% of crash injuries in U.S. 2021.
- Speeding-related injuries: 336,000 in U.S. 2021.
Injuries Interpretation
Behind the cold precision of these millions of statistics lies a vast, rolling epidemic of entirely preventable human agony, proving that our roads remain one of the most routinely dangerous places we willingly gather.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NHTSAnhtsa.govVisit source
- Reference 2WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 3CRASHSTATScrashstats.nhtsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 4CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 5IIHSiihs.orgVisit source
- Reference 6GHSAghsa.orgVisit source
- Reference 7SMARTGROWTHAMERICAsmartgrowthamerica.orgVisit source
- Reference 8NSCnsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 9ROAD-SAFETYroad-safety.transport.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 10FLHSMVflhsmv.govVisit source
- Reference 11INJURYFACTSinjuryfacts.nsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 12TXDOTtxdot.govVisit source
- Reference 13MORTHmorth.nic.inVisit source
- Reference 14GSPgsp.ga.govVisit source
- Reference 15BITREbitre.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 16CHIROPRACTICRESEARCHREVIEWchiropracticresearchreview.comVisit source
- Reference 17IIIiii.orgVisit source
- Reference 18NSCISCnscisc.uab.eduVisit source
- Reference 19AAAFOUNDATIONaaafoundation.orgVisit source
- Reference 20HIGHWAYShighways.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 21OPSops.fhwa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 22FMCSAfmcsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 23SAFETYsafety.fhwa.dot.govVisit source