With 1,006,000+ police reported crashes in the United States in 2022 and 42,915 people dying in alcohol impaired driving crashes, this post breaks down the full set of car crash statistics that explain what is happening and why it matters.
Key Takeaways
- 6.8% increase in traffic fatalities from 2020 to 2021 in the United States
- 42,915 people died in crashes involving alcohol-impaired driving in the United States in 2022
- 7,485 people died in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08+ in the United States in 2022
In 2022, road crashes killed 1.19 million people in the US worldwide, most deaths still occur.
Impact & Fatalities
16.8% increase in traffic fatalities from 2020 to 2021 in the United States[1]
Verified242,915 people died in crashes involving alcohol-impaired driving in the United States in 2022[2]
Verified37,485 people died in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08+ in the United States in 2022[2]
Verified49,717 people died in crashes involving speeding in the United States in 2022[1]
Directional554% of passenger vehicle occupants who died in 2022 were unrestrained[1]
Single source65,514 people died in crashes involving motorcyclists in the United States in 2022[1]
Verified72,835 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2022[1]
Verified86,716 cyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2022[1]
Verified97,522 children (0–14) were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2022[1]
Directional102,893 teen drivers (15–19) died in traffic crashes in the United States in 2022[1]
Single source1134% of fatalities in 2022 involved a vehicle crash where the driver had a BAC of 0.08+ (alcohol-impaired driving context)[2]
Verified1258% of people killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2022 were in passenger vehicles[1]
Verified1375% of traffic fatalities in 2022 occurred in crashes on non-interstate roads in the United States[1]
Verified1443% of passenger vehicle occupants who died in 2022 were not wearing seat belts[1]
Directional151,244 people died in crashes involving large trucks in the United States in 2022[1]
Single source165,936 people died in crashes involving light trucks in the United States in 2022[1]
Verified171,682 people died in crashes involving buses in the United States in 2022[1]
Verified183.8% of traffic fatalities in 2022 involved young drivers (15–20 years old)[1]
Verified1913,717 people died in crashes involving distracted driving in the United States in 2022[1]
Directional2045% of people killed in distraction-related crashes in 2022 were not the person who was distracted (driver distraction context)[1]
Single source216% of all traffic crashes in 2022 involved distraction, based on reported distraction-related crash criteria[1]
Verified222.7% of drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022 had a BAC of 0.08+[2]
Verified231,327 people died in speeding-related crashes in the United States in 2022 (speeding context)[1]
Verified2410% of drivers in fatal crashes in 2022 were unrestrained[1]
Directional251.19 million people were killed or injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States in 2022 (KABCO aggregate injuries and fatalities)[1]
Single source2614.6% of all injury crashes in 2022 involved alcohol-impaired driving in the United States[2]
Verified27270,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes in the United States in 2022 (injury count context)[1]
Verified2851% of people killed in crashes were occupants in vehicles with seat belts available but not used (unrestrained context)[1]
Verified2943% of people killed in 2022 traffic crashes were in single-vehicle crashes[1]
Directional3029% of traffic fatalities in 2022 occurred in crashes involving intersections in the United States[1]
Single source3122% of traffic fatalities in 2022 occurred at night (6pm–6am time-of-day context)[1]
Verified3276% of traffic fatalities in 2022 occurred under clear or dry road conditions (road condition distribution)[1]
Verified331,006,000+ police-reported crashes occurred in the United States in 2022 (all crash count context)[1]
Verified3428% of traffic fatalities in the United States in 2022 occurred on rural roads[1]
Directional3546% of traffic fatalities in the United States in 2022 occurred on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or higher[1]
Single source3668% of motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States involve drivers or passengers in passenger vehicles[1]
Verified3711% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2022 were children aged 0–12 (age group context)[1]
Verified384,764 people died in pedestrian-related crashes in the United States in 2022 (pedestrian fatalities count context)[1]
Verified391,173 children aged 0–14 were killed in crashes as passenger vehicle occupants in the United States in 2022[1]
Directional402,272 children aged 0–14 were killed in crashes as pedestrians in the United States in 2022[1]
Single source41Worldwide, 1.19 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes[3]
Verified4250 million people are injured in road traffic crashes each year worldwide[3]
Verified43Globally, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5–29 years[3]
Verified44About 93% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)[3]
Directional45Road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP), on average[3]
Single source46Road traffic crashes are projected to become the 5th leading cause of death by 2030 (inadequate action scenario)[3]
Verified4734% of road traffic deaths are pedestrians[3]
Verified4823% of road traffic deaths are motorcyclists[3]
Verified4927% of road traffic deaths are vehicle occupants[3]
Directional50In Canada, 1,951 people died in motor vehicle collisions in 2022 (preliminary reported deaths)[4]
Single source51Brazil reported 38,113 road deaths in 2022 (DATASUS / road traffic deaths dataset release context)[5]
VerifiedImpact & Fatalities Interpretation
In the United States, 75% of traffic fatalities happen on non-interstate roads and distracted driving accounts for 6% of crashes yet involved 13,717 deaths in 2022, underscoring how preventable risk on local roads drives a large share of loss of life.
References
- 1crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813430
- 2crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813428
- 3who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries
- 4www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240402/dq240402a-eng.htm
- 5datasus.saude.gov.br/mortalidade/