A staggering 42,795 lives were lost on U.S. roads in 2022 alone, a grim statistic that underscores the urgent need to address the preventable causes—from distracted and impaired driving to unsafe infrastructure—behind this ongoing public health crisis.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 42,795 motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States, marking a 0.3% increase from 2021.
- Motor vehicle crashes killed 1.19 million people globally in 2021, accounting for 2.2% of all deaths worldwide.
- The U.S. motor vehicle fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.33 in 2022.
- In 2021, U.S. emergency medical service personnel responded to 4.3 million motor vehicle crash injuries.
- Globally, 20-50 million people suffer non-fatal road injuries annually, many resulting in disability.
- In 2020, 2.3 million U.S. emergency department visits were for motor vehicle crash injuries.
- Distracted driving caused 3,142 deaths and thousands of injuries in 2021 U.S.
- Alcohol impairment was involved in 30% of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2021.
- Speeding was a factor in 29% of U.S. fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2022.
- Males account for 71% of U.S. driver deaths in crashes.
- Drivers aged 16-17 have crash rates 3 times higher than drivers over 20.
- In 2021, 12% of U.S. traffic fatalities were drivers 75+, despite 10% population.
- In 2022, U.S. motor vehicle crashes cost $472 billion economically.
- Global economic loss from road crashes: 3% of GDP annually.
- U.S. crash medical costs: $44 billion in 2020.
U.S. traffic fatalities remain alarmingly high despite decades of safety improvements.
Causes
- Distracted driving caused 3,142 deaths and thousands of injuries in 2021 U.S.
- Alcohol impairment was involved in 30% of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2021.
- Speeding was a factor in 29% of U.S. fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2022.
- Distracted driving accounted for 8% of fatal crashes in the U.S. in 2021.
- Failure to yield right-of-way caused 24% of U.S. intersection crashes in 2021.
- In 2021, 49% of U.S. fatal crashes involved a male driver under 34.
- Rear-end crashes make up 29% of all U.S. police-reported crashes.
- Improper lane change caused 8% of U.S. fatal crashes in 2021.
- Globally, speeding contributes to one-third of road traffic deaths.
- Cell phone use increases crash risk by 4 times, per U.S. studies.
- DUI crashes in U.S. peak between 12 AM and 3 AM on weekends.
- Running red lights caused 929 U.S. deaths in 2021.
- Fatigue-related crashes: 13% of U.S. roadway departures.
- In 2021, 18% of U.S. fatal crashes involved large trucks.
- Wrong-way driving led to 668 U.S. fatalities in 2021, often alcohol-related.
- Over 90% of U.S. crashes due to human error, per NHTSA.
- Aggressive driving factors in 56% of fatal U.S. crashes.
- Intersection crashes: 40% of all U.S. crashes, 22% of fatalities.
- Texting while driving raises crash risk by 23 times.
- Alcohol-involved crashes: BAC 0.08+ in 67% of DUI deaths U.S. 2021.
- Roadway departure crashes: 53% of U.S. fatalities in 2022.
- Hit-and-run crashes caused 2,783 U.S. deaths in 2021.
- Speeding teens: 30% higher crash rate per mile.
- Mechanical failure: less than 2% of U.S. crashes.
- Weather-related crashes: 21% of U.S. total, 5% fatal.
- Rollover crashes: 35% of SUV fatalities vs. 10% sedans.
- Drowsy driving equivalent to 70,000 crashes yearly U.S.
- Failure to control vehicle: primary in 30% U.S. fatal single-vehicle crashes.
- In 2021, 62% of U.S. male drivers aged 21-24 involved in fatal crashes.
Causes Interpretation
The grim truth is that behind nearly every fatal statistic lies a preventable human choice—a glance at a screen, a drink too many, a reckless urge to speed—proving that the most dangerous part of any car is, far too often, the driver.
Costs and Trends
- In 2022, U.S. motor vehicle crashes cost $472 billion economically.
- Global economic loss from road crashes: 3% of GDP annually.
- U.S. crash medical costs: $44 billion in 2020.
- Insurance payouts for U.S. auto crashes: $165 billion yearly.
- Seat belts save U.S. $236 billion in medical costs over 40 years.
- Drunk driving costs U.S. $134 billion annually.
- Traffic deaths per 100k population declined 50% since 1980 in U.S.
- Vehicle miles traveled up 120% since 1980, deaths down 10%.
- Airbags saved $83 billion in U.S. crash costs since 1987.
- Speeding costs U.S. economy $40-50 billion yearly.
- U.S. congestion cost: $87 billion in 2023, linked to crashes.
- Helmet laws save U.S. $3 billion in medical costs yearly.
- Global road safety investment: $1 saves $8-10 in costs.
- U.S. truck crash costs: $91 billion in 2016.
- Lost productivity from U.S. MV deaths: $277 billion in 2020.
- Fatalities per billion miles dropped from 1.47 in 2002 to 1.33 in 2022.
- U.S. property damage from crashes: $258 billion annually.
- Vision Zero cities reduced fatalities 20-40%.
- Autonomous vehicles projected to reduce crashes 90%.
- U.S. teen crash costs: $34 billion yearly.
- Market loss from crashes: $242 billion U.S. 2020.
- Red light cameras reduce crashes 24%, save millions.
- U.S. fatality rate lowest in Northeast states.
- Global deaths stagnant since 2007 at 1.3 million.
- U.S. crashes down 5% in 2020 due to pandemic.
- Infrastructure investment yields 4:1 crash cost savings.
- U.S. average crash cost per fatality: $11.5 million.
- Distracted driving costs $260 billion U.S. yearly.
Costs and Trends Interpretation
We have the proven tools—like seat belts, airbags, and smarter infrastructure—to dramatically cut this staggering economic hemorrhage, but collectively we keep choosing the expensive, bloody path instead.
Demographics
- Males account for 71% of U.S. driver deaths in crashes.
- Drivers aged 16-17 have crash rates 3 times higher than drivers over 20.
- In 2021, 12% of U.S. traffic fatalities were drivers 75+, despite 10% population.
- African Americans: 21% of pedestrian deaths vs. 13% population.
- Males comprise 70% of U.S. motorcyclist fatalities.
- Teens 16-19: 8% of drivers but 12% of fatal crash drivers.
- Hispanic population: 19% of U.S. fatalities, 18% population.
- Elderly drivers 80+: fatal crash rate 4x higher per mile.
- Young males 18-24: highest DUI arrest rate at 3,812 per 100,000.
- Women: 46% of U.S. passenger deaths but lower driver deaths.
- Children 0-3: rear-facing seats reduce death risk 72%.
- Urban areas: 52% of U.S. fatalities despite 27% miles.
- Native Americans: traffic death rate 36.5 per 100,000, 2x national.
- Drivers 85+: 25% higher fatal crash involvement per mile.
- Teens: 21% of drivers in fatal crashes with alcohol.
- Males 25-34: 26% of U.S. driver fatalities.
- Rural roads: 44% of U.S. fatalities but 30% VMT.
- Black males: highest pedestrian death rate at 2.85 per 100,000.
- Ages 35-44: 20% of speeding-related fatalities.
- Females under 25: crash rate 1.5x higher than older females.
- Pickup drivers: 80% male, higher rollover risk.
- Global: 77% of deaths male.
- U.S. low-income areas: 50% higher pedestrian crash risk.
- Drivers 20-29: 27% of all fatal crashes.
- Children 12-17: 9% of passenger deaths.
- Weekend nights: 40% of fatal crashes involve young males.
- Motorcyclists 40-44: peak age group for fatalities.
Demographics Interpretation
While the open road promises freedom, these sobering statistics reveal that the journey is perilously skewed by youth, masculinity, and inequality, proving that when it comes to traffic safety, your demographics can be as dangerous as your driving.
Fatalities
- In 2022, there were 42,795 motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States, marking a 0.3% increase from 2021.
- Motor vehicle crashes killed 1.19 million people globally in 2021, accounting for 2.2% of all deaths worldwide.
- The U.S. motor vehicle fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.33 in 2022.
- In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the U.S., representing 29% of all traffic fatalities.
- Pedestrian deaths reached 7,522 in the U.S. in 2022, a 1.6% increase from 2021.
- From 1975 to 2022, motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population in the U.S. dropped 52%, from 25.9 to 12.4.
- In 2020, 38,680 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes, the lowest since 2001 but still high.
- Globally, road traffic deaths among children aged 5-14 numbered 34,000 in 2021.
- U.S. motor vehicle deaths increased by 16% from 2019 to 2022, totaling over 42,000 annually.
- In 2022, 5,932 motorcyclists died in U.S. crashes, up 2% from 2021.
- Large truck crash fatalities in the U.S. rose to 5,788 in 2021, a 5% increase.
- In 2021, 1,105 bicyclists were killed in U.S. traffic crashes.
- Teen drivers aged 16-19 were involved in 2,516 fatal crashes in the U.S. in 2021.
- In 2022, Florida had 4,252 motor vehicle fatalities, the highest in the U.S.
- Globally, 93% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries despite having 60% of vehicles.
- U.S. occupant deaths in passenger vehicles totaled 21,943 in 2021.
- From 2018 to 2021, U.S. highway deaths rose 22% to over 40,000.
- In 2021, 668 people died in U.S. crashes involving wrong-way driving.
- Motorcycle fatalities per 100,000 registered vehicles in the U.S. were 61.4 in 2021.
- In 2022, California recorded 4,228 traffic deaths.
- Global road deaths peaked at 1.35 million annually around 2016.
- U.S. fatalities in nighttime crashes were 54% of total in 2021 despite 27% of miles driven at night.
- In 2021, 2,710 teen drivers died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes.
- Pickup truck occupant death rate was 12.9 per million registered vehicles in 2021.
- In 2020, U.S. pedestrian fatalities increased 21% in urban areas.
- Global male road death rate is 2.8 times higher than females at 18 per 100,000.
- Texas had 4,478 motor vehicle deaths in 2022.
- In 2021, 4,965 people died in speed-related U.S. crashes.
- SUV occupant fatalities totaled 8,072 in the U.S. in 2021.
- In 2022, 42 states saw an increase in traffic deaths over 2021.
Fatalities Interpretation
While we’ve halved the per-capita death rate since the 70s, the grim math of 42,795 lives lost last year—each one a preventable tragedy—proves we’re still tragically stuck in neutral when it comes to road safety.
Injuries
- In 2021, U.S. emergency medical service personnel responded to 4.3 million motor vehicle crash injuries.
- Globally, 20-50 million people suffer non-fatal road injuries annually, many resulting in disability.
- In 2020, 2.3 million U.S. emergency department visits were for motor vehicle crash injuries.
- U.S. motor vehicle crash injury rate per 100 million miles was 105.8 in 2021.
- Approximately 1 in 5 U.S. crash injuries results in traumatic brain injury.
- In 2021, 397,000 U.S. children were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
- Pedestrian injuries in the U.S. numbered 60,000 in 2021, with 5,932 fatalities.
- From 2010-2020, U.S. motor vehicle injuries cost $470 billion in medical expenses.
- In 2022, 5.25 million police-reported U.S. crashes involved injuries.
- Globally, road injuries are the leading cause of death for ages 5-29.
- U.S. hospital discharges for motor vehicle occupant injuries: 344,000 in 2019.
- Motorcycle injuries treated in U.S. ERs: 83,000 in 2021.
- In 2021, 1.2 million U.S. drivers reported injuries from crashes.
- Bicyclist injuries in U.S. traffic: 130,000 annually average 2017-2021.
- U.S. teen drivers aged 16-19 injured in 383,000 crashes in 2021.
- Spinal cord injuries from U.S. motor vehicle crashes: 38% of total.
- In 2020, 2.28 million Americans injured in motor vehicle crashes.
- Whiplash injuries account for 70% of U.S. motor vehicle injury claims.
- Global non-fatal road injuries: 39 million in 2017.
- U.S. occupant injuries in crashes: 2.1 million in 2021.
- Lower extremity injuries comprise 30% of serious crash injuries in U.S.
- In 2021, 75,000 U.S. pedestrians seriously injured in crashes.
- U.S. airbag deployment prevented 50,000 serious injuries since 1987.
- Head injuries from U.S. MV crashes: 400,000 ER visits annually.
- In 2022, 6 million U.S. crashes resulted in 2.5 million injuries.
- Florida reported 260,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2021.
- U.S. seat belt use reduced injuries by 50% for front-seat occupants.
- Motorcycle helmet use prevents 37% of deaths and 67% of head injuries.
- In 2021, 172,000 U.S. bicyclists treated for traffic injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries from MV crashes: 14,000 hospitalizations yearly.
- Alcohol-related crash injuries in U.S.: 340,000 in 2021.
- In 2020, U.S. children under 14 injured: 547,000 in MV crashes.
- Speeding contributed to 29% of U.S. fatal crashes but more injuries.
- In 2021, 29% of U.S. crash-involved drivers had injuries.
Injuries Interpretation
Behind every statistic is a human story, yet this relentless parade of millions of annual injuries and billions in costs suggests we've tragically accepted the carnage of our roads as a normal tax for mobility.
Sources & References
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- Reference 6FMCSAfmcsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 7CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 8HIGHWAYShighways.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 9IIIiii.orgVisit source
- Reference 10NSCISCnscisc.uab.eduVisit source
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- Reference 16VISIONZERONETWORKvisionzeronetwork.orgVisit source