Local crash data and safety maps: how to find and read your area's data
How to find official crash maps for your area and read them without being misled
Picture typing your home address into a crash map and seeing a cluster of red dots at the corner where your teen waits for the school bus. Is that corner dangerous, or just busy?
In 2024, 39,254 people died in U.S. traffic crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports [1]. Each crash happened at a real place. Many states and cities now map them for the public.
This guide walks you through the data the way a traffic safety analyst would. You will learn which free tools cover your area, what patterns to expect, six traps to avoid, and how to turn findings into safer trips and streets.
Four levels of crash data, from nation to street
Crash data comes in layers. Each one answers a different question.
- National: How does my state compare?
- State: Which counties, roads and crash types stand out?
- City or county: Which corridors have the most serious crashes?
- Street: What has happened at this intersection lately?
NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) counts every fatal crash on public roads where someone died within 30 days, with data back to 1975 [9]. Injury and property damage crashes come from each state’s police reports. So what you can see depends on where you live.
National tools that cover every state and county
Start here for a fair comparison across states, or if your state’s own dashboard is hard to use.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| Tool | Run by | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) | NHTSA | Custom fatal crash queries, shown as tables, charts or maps | cdan.dot.gov/query |
| State Traffic Safety Information (STSI) | NHTSA | State and county profiles for the past 10 years, with crash location maps | cdan.dot.gov/STSI |
| FARS data and encyclopedia | NHTSA | Ready made fatal crash tables and full downloads | nhtsa.gov/FARS |
| Fatality Facts: State by state | Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) | Ranking states by deaths per person and per mile driven | iihs.org |
FIRST can also query the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS), a national sample from 60 areas. So use the fatal crash (FARS) data for local questions [9].
State rates vary widely: in 2024, deaths per 100,000 people ranged from 4.7 in Rhode Island to 25.6 in Mississippi [6]. Per 100 million miles driven, Massachusetts was lowest at 0.59 and Mississippi highest at 1.81 [6]. Rural roads explain much of the gap: 81% of North Dakota’s deaths were rural, compared with 8% in Massachusetts [6].
Verified state and city crash dashboards
We opened every tool below in October 2026. If a link moves, search your state transportation or highway safety office site for “crash data.”
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| State or city | Tool | What it shows | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Crash Rankings | Ranks each city against similar size cities for pedestrian, bicycle, speed, nighttime and other crashes (2017 to 2023). No. 1 is worst. | ots.ca.gov |
| Florida | Florida Crash Dashboard (Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) | Statewide crash dashboard and crash facts. The Signal Four Analytics portal is open only to government agencies and their contractors. | flhsmv.gov |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Crash Data | Fatal crash snapshots for this year and past years, plus county and city crash summaries | idot.illinois.gov |
| Maryland | Fatal Crash Data Dashboard (Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Highway Safety Office) | Maps fatal crashes by place and year; notes that counts can differ from other sources | zerodeathsmd.gov |
| Massachusetts | MassDOT Crash Data Portal | Crash queries, interactive maps, top crash locations and crash rates | mass.gov/crash-data |
| Michigan | Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (Michigan State Police, Office of Highway Safety Planning and University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute) | Annual crash publications, county statistics and data tools | michigan.gov |
| Ohio | OSTATS Crash Dashboard (Ohio State Highway Patrol) | Five years of crashes, sortable by severity, roadway, time, day of week and month | statepatrol.ohio.gov |
| Texas | CRIS Query and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) crash dashboards | Build your own query of public crash data (10 years plus the current year); pedestrian and bicyclist fatality dashboard | txdot.gov |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Crash Data Portal | 10 full years plus the current year; the newest 2 years are not complete until July of the following year | wsdot.wa.gov |
| New York City | Vision Zero View (NYC DOT) | Injury and fatal crashes mapped monthly, plus street safety projects and speed limits | vzv.nyc |
| Austin, Texas | Vision Zero Viewer and High Injury Network map | Fatal and serious injury crashes by travel mode, time and place | austintexas.gov |
| Chicago | Chicago DOT Vision Zero | Monthly fatal crash reports, crash datasets and a High Crash Corridors plan | chicago.gov |
| Portland, Oregon | High Crash Network | Map of 30 high crash streets, chosen using 2004 to 2013 crash data | portland.gov |
Not listed? The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) keeps a directory of every State Highway Safety Office, a good starting point for finding your state’s crash data.
Find your local data in 10 minutes
The pattern most maps reveal: a few roads carry most of the harm
Analysts see one pattern almost everywhere: serious crashes pile up on a small share of roads. The table below compares road miles and driving, calculated from 2023 federal data, with 2024 deaths by road type.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| Road type | Share of road miles | Share of vehicle miles driven | Share of crash deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interstates and other freeways | 1.6% | 35.2% | 16% |
| Arterials (main multilane roads) | 9.6% | 37.8% | 53% |
| Collectors (roads feeding arterials) | 19.6% | 13.7% | 19% |
| Local streets and roads | 69.2% | 13.4% | 10% |
Sources: road miles and miles driven calculated from FHWA Highway Statistics 2023, Tables HM-20 and VM-2 [8]; deaths by road type in 2024 from IIHS [7]. A small share of deaths had an unknown road type.
Freeways carry about a third of all driving but about one sixth of deaths, because their design separates traffic and removes cross streets. Arterials carry a similar share of driving but more than half of deaths, because they mix higher speeds with turning traffic, driveways and people on foot. Local streets make up most road miles but about 1 in 10 deaths.
Intersections versus corridors. In 2024, 11,764 people died in intersection crashes, about 30% of all deaths (our calculation) [1, 2]. Roadway departure crashes, where a vehicle leaves its lane or the road, killed 18,348, or 47% [2]. So on a map, look for two shapes: spots at intersections, which analysts call nodes, and lines along corridors, called segments.
Pedestrian and bicycle patterns to look for
People walking and biking follow their own patterns, which show up clearly once you filter for them.
Pedestrians: In 2024, 7,080 people on foot were killed [3]. Of these deaths, 84% were in urban areas, 73% were away from intersections and 76% happened in the dark [3]. Nearly half came in the evening: 24% from 6 to 8:59 p.m. and 23% from 9 to 11:59 p.m. [3]. GHSA’s review of 2024 federal data found that principal and minor arterials combined had 63% of pedestrian deaths on roads of known type [5]. In 62.2% of deaths, there was no sidewalk [5]. GHSA projects 6,732 pedestrian deaths for 2025, a 7% drop [5].
Bicyclists: In 2024, 1,103 bicyclists and other cyclists were killed [4]. Of these, 81% died in urban areas, 60% away from intersections and 30% at intersections [4]. Just over half (52%) died in the dark, most often between 6 and 8:59 p.m. [4].
On your local map, combine these filters: pedestrian or bicycle, dark conditions, fatal and serious injury. Then look for long arterial stretches with few marked crossings. Those are the places an analyst would flag first. See our guides to pedestrian safety and bicycle safety for what drivers can do there.
Rural roads: fewer dots, higher stakes
Rural maps can look reassuringly empty, but rural crashes are more often deadly. In 2024, rural areas had 21% of the U.S. population and 31% of vehicle miles traveled, but 41% of traffic deaths [2]. The rural death rate was about 1.5 times the urban rate (1.56 versus 1.01 per 100 million miles) [2].
Roadway departure crashes caused 63% of rural deaths [2]. Among rural deaths in the dark, 88% happened where there was no lighting [2]. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) notes that severe crashes are spread widely and shift location from year to year [11]. So rural safety work often fixes risky features, such as sharp curves, along many miles instead of chasing one hot spot [11]. See our rural road safety guide.
Points, heat maps and rates: three ways to show the same crashes
The same crash records can tell different stories depending on how they are drawn.
- Point maps show one dot per crash. But dots stack up, so 30 crashes at one corner can look like a single dot. Click or zoom to see counts.
- Heat maps blur dots into glowing patches. The patch size depends on a smoothing distance the map maker picks, so heat can spill onto quiet side streets.
- Rates divide crashes by exposure, meaning how much traffic there is. MassDOT measures intersections in crashes per million entering vehicles and road segments per million vehicle miles [14].
- Shaded county or state maps usually show deaths per person or per mile driven. Check which, because rankings can change [6].
Reading a crash map: 6 traps
An analyst’s rule of thumb: a hot spot is a reason to look closer, not a verdict. Our guide to understanding traffic safety data explains rates and exposure in more depth.
High injury networks, Vision Zero and safety action plans
Many cities publish a high injury network (HIN), the streets where a large share of deaths and serious injuries happen. Austin reports that its HIN covers just 8% of city streets but nearly 60% of serious injury and fatal crashes [15]. Vision Zero cities, which aim to end traffic deaths and serious injuries, often use their HIN to decide where fixes go first.
The federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program has spread this approach. Through its 2025 awards, SS4A provided $3.9 billion to more than 2,000 communities [13]. Each SS4A safety action plan must analyze crash locations and severity and map higher risk areas, often as an HIN [13]. Plans must also involve the public, be posted online and report progress each year [13]. Check the SS4A awards map to see whether your town has one.
Every state also has a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), a data driven plan to cut deaths and serious injuries on all public roads [12]. FHWA links to each state’s plan from an interactive map [12]. The plan shows which safety problems your state has chosen to focus on.
To see what fixes exist, browse FHWA’s Proven Safety Countermeasures, such as roundabouts and better lighting. Our Safe System guide explains why road design matters as much as driver behavior.
Turning what you find into action
For your own trips:
- Shift a route or time when the data point to a specific risk, such as an unlit arterial crossing at night.
- Mark 2 or 3 “extra care” spots on your regular routes. Slow down before you reach them.
- Parents: show a new driver the local map, then practice the flagged spots together in daylight first.
- Older adults and caregivers: plan errands to avoid the corridors and hours with the most serious crashes.
For your community:
- Report hazards, such as a dark streetlight or faded crosswalk. Use 311 or your city’s portal for city streets, and your state transportation department for state highways.
- Join the planning. Attend Vision Zero or SS4A meetings, comment on draft plans and ask how your corridor ranks.
- Contact the right office. City traffic engineers handle local streets. Your State Highway Safety Office runs statewide education and enforcement programs.
- Ask for a study. Request a speed study or road safety audit for a corridor that keeps showing serious crashes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find car crashes near me on a map?
Check your city’s Vision Zero or transportation page first, then your state’s crash dashboard. NHTSA’s STSI also offers crash location maps for every state [9]. Most public maps show past crashes, not live incidents.
What is a high injury network?
It is a map of the streets where a large share of a city’s deaths and serious injuries happen. In Austin, 8% of streets have nearly 60% of serious injury and fatal crashes [15].
Which state has the most dangerous roads?
It depends on the measure. But in 2024, Mississippi had the highest death rate both per person and per mile driven [6]. Rhode Island had the lowest rate per person, and Massachusetts the lowest per mile driven [6].
Why isn’t a recent crash showing on the map?
Reports can take weeks or months to reach state databases. Federal fatal counts are revised the following year [1]. The crash may also have gone unreported or been mapped in the wrong spot.
How current is crash data?
It varies by tool. NYC’s Vision Zero View updates monthly. Washington says its newest 2 years stay incomplete until July of the following year. Final federal counts lag the most [1].
Can I get a speed limit changed or a crosswalk added near me?
You can ask. The best place to start is your city or county traffic engineer. Bring 3 to 5 years of crash data and request a speed study or road safety audit. Rules for setting speed limits vary by state, so ask which process applies.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Check your area’s crash data once a year, starting with fatal and serious injury crashes over at least 3 years. Treat any hot spot as a question about traffic and conditions, not a final verdict. Then act on it. Take extra care at a few specific spots. Bring your findings to your community’s safety plan.
Related articles
- Understanding traffic safety data: how to read crash statistics wisely
- Safe System approach: how road design protects you from human mistakes
- Pedestrian safety for drivers: how to spot, yield to and protect walkers
- Bicycle, e-bike and scooter safety: how drivers and riders share the road
- Rural road safety: why country roads are deadlier and how to drive them
Sources and further reading
- 1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024. DOT HS 813 791. April 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813791
- 2NHTSA. Rural/Urban Traffic Fatalities: 2024 Data. Traffic Safety Facts, DOT HS 813 828. July 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813828
- 3NHTSA. Pedestrians: 2024 Data. Traffic Safety Facts, DOT HS 813 818. June 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813818
- 4NHTSA. Bicyclists and Other Cyclists: 2024 Data. Traffic Safety Facts, DOT HS 813 822. July 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813822
- 5Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2025 Preliminary Data. July 14, 2026. ghsa.org/…/pedestrian-traffic-fatalities-2025-data and full report (PDF)
- 6Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality Facts 2024: State by state. Posted June 2026. iihs.org/…/state-by-state
- 7IIHS. Fatality Facts 2024: Urban/rural comparison. Posted June 2026. iihs.org/…/urban-rural-comparison
- 8Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Highway Statistics 2023, Table HM-20 (public road length) and Table VM-2 (functional system travel). November 2024. fhwa.dot.gov/…/hm20.cfm and fhwa.dot.gov/…/vm2.cfm
- 9NHTSA. Crash Data Analysis (CDAN) tools; Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS); Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS). Pages accessed October 2026. cdan.dot.gov, nhtsa.gov/…/fatality-analysis-reporting-system and nhtsa.gov/…/crash-report-sampling-system
- 10NHTSA. The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2019 (Revised). DOT HS 813 403. February 2023. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813403
- 11FHWA. Data-Driven Safety Analysis (DDSA). Updated September 26, 2025. highways.dot.gov/…/data-driven-safety-analysis-ddsa
- 12FHWA. Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). Updated July 23, 2024. highways.dot.gov/safety/hsip/shsp
- 13U.S. Department of Transportation. Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program (updated May 27, 2026) and SS4A Action Plan Requirements (updated March 27, 2026). transportation.gov/grants/SS4A and transportation.gov/…/action-plan-requirements
- 14Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Intersection and Roadway Crash Rate Data for Analysis and Top Crash Locations and Maps. Accessed October 2026. mass.gov/…/intersection-and-roadway-crash-rate-data-for-analysis and mass.gov/…/top-crash-locations-and-maps
- 15City of Austin Transportation and Public Works. Vision Zero. Accessed October 2026. austintexas.gov/department/vision-zero
This article reflects the priorities of traffic safety data analysis and crash mapping. It is general education, not legal, engineering or other professional advice for any individual situation. Crash data, tools and web addresses change, so verify details with the official sources linked here. Reviewed October 2026.
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