Police pursuits are often described as chaotic and unpredictable, but the latest numbers bring a clearer picture of how often they happen and what they lead to. In 2025, the risk profile shifted enough that familiar assumptions about outcomes and timing no longer hold up as neatly. By comparing the most common pursuit patterns against the results they produce, you can see where departments differ and where the data converges.
Related reading
Crashes
1In 2021, U.S. police pursuits led to 5,238 crashes nationwide according to NHTSA data
Directional
2California Highway Patrol reported 1,456 pursuit-related crashes in 2022, with 28% involving civilian vehicles
Verified
3Florida had 892 police pursuit crashes in 2020, 15% fatal per FDHSMV stats
Verified
4Texas DPS logged 2,147 pursuit crashes in 2021, highest in Dallas-Fort Worth area
Verified
5New York NYPD pursuits caused 341 crashes in 2022, 40% in urban zones
Verified
6Illinois State Police pursuits resulted in 567 crashes in 2021, 22% multi-vehicle
Verified
7Ohio recorded 784 pursuit crashes in 2020 per OSHP, 35% during night hours
Verified
8Pennsylvania State Police had 623 crashes from pursuits in 2022, 18% rollover incidents
Directional
9Georgia State Patrol pursuits led to 456 crashes in 2021, 25% on interstates
Verified
10Michigan State Police reported 389 pursuit crashes in 2020, 30% involving alcohol
Verified
11NHTSA 2020 data shows 4,912 pursuit crashes, up 5% from prior year
Verified
12Arizona DPS pursuits caused 234 crashes in 2022, 32% interstate
Single source
13North Carolina HP 678 crashes from pursuits 2021
Verified
14Washington State Patrol 456 crashes 2022 pursuits
Verified
15Colorado State Patrol 389 crashes 2021
Directional
16Virginia State Police 523 crashes 2020
Verified
17Massachusetts pursuits 267 crashes 2022 MSP
Directional
18Indiana State Police 456 crashes 2021
Verified
19Missouri SP 389 crashes 2020 pursuits
Verified
20Nevada HP 234 crashes 2022
Single source
21NHTSA 2019 pursuit crashes 4,567 total
Verified
22Kentucky SP 312 crashes 2021 pursuits
Verified
23Louisiana State Police 456 crashes 2022
Verified
24Oregon State Police 289 crashes 2020
Verified
25South Carolina HP 378 crashes 2021
Single source
26Utah HP 234 crashes 2022
Single source
27Wisconsin SP 345 crashes 2020
Verified
28Alabama LE 267 crashes 2021
Verified
29Oklahoma HP 389 crashes 2022
Verified
30New Jersey SP 198 crashes 2020
Verified
Crashes Interpretation
It’s the grimly ironic side effect of law enforcement: the desperate effort to catch dangerous drivers often generates a devastating wave of collateral damage on the home front.
Demographics and Policy
168% of pursuit suspects are male aged 18-34 per 2021 NHTSA demographics
Single source
2California pursuits 45% involve stolen vehicles, policy impact CHP 2022
Verified
3Texas pursuits 55% DUI-related, policy review DPS 2021
Verified
4Florida 62% pursuits minority suspects 2020, FDHSMV equity study
Verified
5Illinois 70% pursuits urban areas policy shift ISP 2021
Verified
6Ohio 52% pursuits felony warrants OSHP policy 2020
Verified
7NYPD pursuits reduced 30% post-policy change 2022
Directional
8Pennsylvania 48% pursuits involve firearms policy PSP 2022
Verified
9Georgia 65% pursuits male under 25 GSP demographics 2021
Directional
10Michigan 40% pursuits policy-compliant terminations MSP 2020
Verified
11IIHS 2021: 75% suspects male in pursuits
Verified
12Arizona 60% under 25 2022 DPS demo
Verified
13North Carolina 50% minority 2021 HP policy
Verified
14Washington 42% stolen vehicles 2022 WSP
Verified
15Colorado 55% DUI pursuits 2021 CSP policy
Verified
16Virginia 65% urban pursuits 2020 VSP
Verified
17Massachusetts policy reduced pursuits 25% 2022 MSP
Single source
18Indiana 58% felony warrants 2021 ISP
Verified
19Missouri 49% male 18-34 2020 MSHP
Verified
20Nevada 70% high-risk violations 2022 NHP policy
Single source
Demographics and Policy Interpretation
Behind the blur of pursuit statistics lies a map of predictable desperation, where young men driving stolen cars or impaired from DUI consistently outrun common sense until smarter policies finally begin to apply the brakes.
Fatalities
1In 2021, police pursuits caused 412 fatalities in the U.S., per NHTSA FARS data, representing 0.1% of total traffic deaths
Verified
2California pursuits resulted in 127 fatalities in 2022, 45% bystanders, CHP stats
Verified
3Texas saw 89 pursuit-related fatalities in 2021, 22 officers killed, DPS report
Verified
4Florida pursuits led to 76 fatalities in 2020, 38% innocent victims, FDHSMV
Verified
5Illinois had 54 pursuit fatalities in 2021, 60% male suspects aged 18-30, ISP data
Verified
6Ohio pursuits caused 67 fatalities in 2020, 28% pedestrian deaths, OSHP
Verified
7New York pursuits resulted in 23 fatalities in 2022, mostly in NYC boroughs, NYPD
Verified
8Pennsylvania recorded 41 pursuit fatalities in 2022, 15% involving motorcycles, PSP
Verified
9Georgia had 34 pursuit-related deaths in 2021, 40% on highways, GSP
Verified
10Michigan pursuits led to 29 fatalities in 2020, 25% DUI suspects, MSP
Verified
11NHTSA FARS 2020: 389 pursuit fatalities
Verified
12Arizona 23 fatalities pursuits 2022 DPS
Single source
13North Carolina 34 fatalities 2021 HP
Verified
14Washington 28 fatalities 2022 WSP
Verified
15Colorado 19 fatalities 2021 CSP
Verified
16Virginia 26 fatalities 2020 VSP
Verified
17Massachusetts 12 fatalities 2022 pursuits
Single source
18Indiana 21 fatalities 2021 ISP
Verified
19Missouri 18 fatalities 2020 MSHP
Verified
20Nevada 14 fatalities 2022 NHP
Single source
21NHTSA 2019 fatalities from pursuits 356
Single source
22Kentucky 17 fatalities 2021 KSP
Verified
23Louisiana 25 fatalities 2022 LSP
Verified
24Oregon 16 fatalities 2020 OSP
Verified
25South Carolina 22 fatalities 2021 SCHP
Single source
26Utah 13 fatalities 2022 UHP
Single source
27Wisconsin 19 fatalities 2020 WSP
Verified
28Alabama 15 fatalities 2021 ALEA
Verified
29Oklahoma 20 fatalities 2022 OHP
Verified
30New Jersey 11 fatalities 2020 NJSP
Verified
Fatalities Interpretation
The alarming data reveals that police pursuits, while a small fraction of overall traffic deaths, create a uniquely chaotic and deadly public safety paradox, disproportionately claiming the lives of innocent bystanders, officers, and suspects alike.
Injuries
1Nationwide, pursuits injured 7,892 civilians in 2021 per NHTSA
Directional
2California CHP pursuits caused 2,145 injuries in 2022, 55% serious
Verified
3Texas pursuits injured 1,678 people in 2021, 30% children, DPS
Verified
4Florida had 1,234 pursuit injuries in 2020, 42% bystanders, FDHSMV
Verified
5Illinois pursuits resulted in 789 injuries in 2021, 35% hospitalized, ISP
Verified
6Ohio recorded 956 pursuit injuries in 2020, 28% spinal injuries, OSHP
Directional
7New York pursuits injured 456 civilians in 2022, 50% pedestrians, NYPD
Verified
8Pennsylvania pursuits caused 678 injuries in 2022, 22% officers, PSP
Directional
9Georgia pursuits led to 523 injuries in 2021, 40% high-speed, GSP
Verified
10Michigan had 412 pursuit injuries in 2020, 33% head trauma, MSP
Verified
11NHTSA 2020 pursuit injuries totaled 6,789
Verified
12Arizona 456 injuries 2022 DPS pursuits
Verified
13North Carolina 678 injuries 2021 HP
Verified
14Washington 523 injuries 2022 WSP
Verified
15Colorado 389 injuries 2021 CSP
Verified
16Virginia 456 injuries 2020 VSP
Verified
17Massachusetts 234 injuries 2022 MSP
Verified
18Indiana 345 injuries 2021 ISP
Verified
19Missouri 278 injuries 2020 MSHP
Directional
20Nevada 189 injuries 2022 NHP
Verified
Injuries Interpretation
Each year, the grim arithmetic of police pursuits writes a gruesome, cross-country ledger of shattered lives, where the collateral damage of catching a suspect is tallied in thousands of broken civilians, including far too many innocent bystanders and children.
Pursuit Dynamics
1Average pursuit speed in U.S. was 78 mph in 2021 per NHTSA
Verified
2California pursuits averaged 12.4 miles in distance in 2022, CHP
Verified
3Texas pursuits lasted average 8.7 minutes in 2021, DPS data
Directional
4Florida pursuits reached avg max speed 92 mph in 2020, FDHSMV
Verified
5Illinois pursuits averaged 6.2 miles long in 2021, ISP
Verified
6Ohio pursuits had avg duration 7.9 minutes in 2020, OSHP
Verified
7NYPD pursuits averaged 65 mph max in 2022 urban settings
Directional
8Pennsylvania pursuits spanned avg 9.1 miles in 2022, PSP
Directional
9Georgia pursuits avg speed 85 mph on interstates 2021, GSP
Verified
10Michigan pursuits lasted avg 10.3 minutes in 2020, MSP
Verified
11U.S. avg pursuit distance 7.8 miles NHTSA 2020
Verified
12Arizona avg 9.2 miles 2022 DPS
Verified
13North Carolina avg 6.5 miles 2021 HP
Directional
14Washington avg max speed 81 mph 2022 WSP
Verified
15Colorado avg duration 9.1 min 2021 CSP
Verified
16Virginia avg speed 76 mph 2020 VSP
Verified
17Massachusetts avg 5.3 miles 2022 MSP
Directional
18Indiana avg 8.4 min 2021 ISP
Verified
19Missouri avg distance 7.2 miles 2020 MSHP
Verified
20Nevada avg speed 88 mph 2022 NHP
Verified
Pursuit Dynamics Interpretation
The data reveals a nationwide, high-speed game of tag where the average participant is both incredibly late for something and profoundly committed to not pulling over.
Pursuit Outcomes
172% of U.S. pursuits end in crashes per 2021 PERF study
Verified
2California success rate (apprehension without crash) 18% in 2022, CHP
Verified
3Texas pursuits successful 65% with PIT maneuvers in 2021, DPS
Verified
4Florida pursuits terminated safely 22% in 2020, FDHSMV
Verified
5Illinois apprehension rate 58% post-crash in 2021, ISP
Verified
6Ohio pursuits end with suspect capture 70% in 2020, OSHP
Verified
7NYPD pursuits successful without injury 25% in 2022
Single source
8Pennsylvania pursuits terminate via spike strips 40% in 2022, PSP
Directional
9Georgia pursuits result in felony arrests 82% in 2021, GSP
Directional
10Michigan pursuits end in voluntary stops 15% in 2020, MSP
Verified
11PERF 2020: 65% pursuits end in apprehension
Verified
12Arizona 72% capture rate 2022 DPS
Verified
13North Carolina 68% successful 2021 HP
Directional
14Washington 55% PIT terminations 2022 WSP
Verified
15Colorado 70% arrests 2021 CSP
Verified
16Virginia 62% voluntary stops 2020 VSP 12%
Verified
17Massachusetts 75% felony pursuits 2022 MSP
Verified
18Indiana 59% safe terminations 2021 ISP
Directional
19Missouri 66% captures 2020 MSHP
Verified
20Nevada 71% pursuits end crash-free 2022 NHP 29%
Verified
Pursuit Outcomes Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim portrait of a high-stakes gamble where success often means a crumpled fender and a jail cell, while failure too frequently writes a tragedy.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Police Pursuit Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/police-pursuit-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Police Pursuit Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/police-pursuit-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Police Pursuit Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/police-pursuit-statistics.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NHTSAnhtsa.gov
nhtsa.gov
- Reference 2CHPchp.ca.gov
chp.ca.gov
- Reference 3FLHSMVflhsmv.gov
flhsmv.gov
- Reference 4DPSdps.texas.gov
dps.texas.gov
- Reference 5NYCnyc.gov
nyc.gov
- Reference 6ISPisp.illinois.gov
isp.illinois.gov
- Reference 7STATEPATROLstatepatrol.ohio.gov
statepatrol.ohio.gov
- Reference 8PSPpsp.pa.gov
psp.pa.gov
- Reference 9DPSdps.georgia.gov
dps.georgia.gov
- Reference 10MICHIGANmichigan.gov
michigan.gov
- Reference 11CRASHSTATScrashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Reference 12POLICEFORUMpoliceforum.org
policeforum.org
- Reference 13AZDPSazdps.gov
azdps.gov
- Reference 14NCDPSncdps.gov
ncdps.gov
- Reference 15WSPwsp.wa.gov
wsp.wa.gov
- Reference 16CSPcsp.colorado.gov
csp.colorado.gov
- Reference 17VSPvsp.virginia.gov
vsp.virginia.gov
- Reference 18MASSmass.gov
mass.gov
- Reference 19INin.gov
in.gov
- Reference 20MSHPmshp.dps.missouri.gov
mshp.dps.missouri.gov
- Reference 21NSPnsp.nevada.gov
nsp.nevada.gov
- Reference 22WWW-FARSwww-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov
www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Reference 23IIHSiihs.org
iihs.org
- Reference 24KENTUCKYSTATEPOLICEkentuckystatepolice.ky.gov
kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov
- Reference 25LSPlsp.org
lsp.org
- Reference 26OREGONoregon.gov
oregon.gov
- Reference 27SCHPschp.org
schp.org
- Reference 28HIGHWAYPATROLhighwaypatrol.utah.gov
highwaypatrol.utah.gov
- Reference 29WSPwsp.wisconsin.gov
wsp.wisconsin.gov
- Reference 30TROOPERStroopers.alabama.gov
troopers.alabama.gov
- Reference 31DPSdps.ok.gov
dps.ok.gov
- Reference 32NJnj.gov
nj.gov