Road safety statistics 2024: U.S. and global crash data
Key U.S. and world crash numbers, each paired with its official source
This page brings the most important road safety numbers together in one place. Every number comes from an official source. These include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The U.S. numbers are for 2024, the latest full year of federal crash data. Each table names its source, and the numbered links go to the full source list at the end of the page. We update this page when new data comes out.
U.S. crashes in 2024 at a glance
According to NHTSA (2026), 39,254 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2024 [1]. That was 4.3% fewer than the 41,025 deaths in 2023 [1]. The death rate also fell, to 1.19 deaths for every 100 million miles driven [1].
Data compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
U.S. traffic crashes, injuries and deaths in 2024
| Measure | 2024 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People killed | 39,254 | NHTSA [1] |
| Change from 2023 | Down 4.3% (from 41,025) | NHTSA [1] |
| Deaths per 100 million miles driven | 1.19 (1.26 in 2023) | NHTSA [1] |
| Deaths per 100,000 people | 11.5 | IIHS [3] |
| Police reported crashes | 6,180,241 | NHTSA [1] |
| Fatal crashes | 36,297 | NHTSA [1] |
| Injury crashes | 1,676,700 | NHTSA [1] |
| Property damage only crashes | 4,467,244 | NHTSA [1] |
| People injured | 2,422,195 | NHTSA [1] |
Sources: NHTSA, Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024 (April 2026); IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: Yearly snapshot (June 2026).
Totals can mislead when you compare places or years. Rates per mile driven or per 100,000 people give a fairer view. Our guide to reading crash statistics shows how to compare them.
What is behind U.S. crash deaths
NHTSA (2026) reports that crashes involving alcohol impaired driving killed 11,904 people in 2024 [1]. That is 30% of all traffic deaths. Speeding related crashes killed 11,288 people, or 29% [1]. Many crashes involve more than one factor. So these numbers overlap, and you should not add them together.
Data compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Leading factors in U.S. traffic deaths, 2024
| Factor | Deaths in 2024 | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol impaired driving (a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher) | 11,904 | 30% of all deaths | NHTSA [1] |
| Speeding | 11,288 | 29% of all deaths | NHTSA [1] |
| Unbuckled people in passenger vehicles | 9,758 | 48% of occupants killed whose belt use was known | NHTSA [1, 7] |
| Distracted driving | 3,208 | 8.2% of all deaths | NHTSA [1, 4] |
Source: NHTSA, Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024 (April 2026). One crash can count in more than one row.
NHTSA also reports that 315,167 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2024 [4].
Who dies in U.S. crashes
IIHS (2026) reports that 58% of the people killed in U.S. crashes in 2024 were inside passenger vehicles [3]. Pedestrians made up 18% of deaths, and motorcyclists 16% [3]. Males accounted for 28,385 deaths [1]. That is about 72% of the total (our calculation).
Data compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Who died in U.S. crashes in 2024
| Group | Deaths or share | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People in passenger vehicles | 58% of deaths | IIHS [3] |
| Pedestrians | 7,080 (18%) | NHTSA [1], IIHS [3] |
| Motorcyclists | 6,228 (16%) | NHTSA [1], IIHS [3] |
| Bicyclists and other cyclists | 1,103 (3%) | NHTSA [1], IIHS [3] |
| People in large trucks | 2% of deaths | IIHS [3] |
| Males | 28,385 (about 72%, our calculation) | NHTSA [1] |
| Teens ages 13 to 19 | 2,899 | IIHS [5] |
| Deaths between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. | 32% | IIHS [3] |
Sources: NHTSA, Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024 (April 2026); IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024 (June 2026).
Young drivers face the highest risk for each mile they drive. IIHS reports that the fatal crash rate per mile for drivers ages 16 to 19 is just over 3 times the rate for drivers 20 and older [5].
Seat belts and protection
NHTSA (2026) found that 91.3% of drivers and front seat passengers wore seat belts in 2025 [6]. Belt use in back seats was lower, at 84.0% [6]. A lap and shoulder belt cuts the risk of death for front seat occupants by 45% in a car and 60% in a pickup, SUV or van, according to NHTSA [7].
Data compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Seat belts, child seats and helmets: what they do
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belt use in front seats, 2025 | 91.3% | NHTSA [6] |
| Seat belt use in back seats, 2025 | 84.0% | NHTSA [6] |
| Lower risk of death with a belt, front seat of a car | 45% | NHTSA [7] |
| Lower risk of death with a belt, front seat of a pickup, SUV or van | 60% | NHTSA [7] |
| Lives saved by seat belts in 2017 | 14,955 | NHTSA [7] |
| Lower risk of death for vehicle occupants with a belt, worldwide | Up to 50% | WHO [2] |
| Fewer infant deaths with child restraints | 71% | WHO [2] |
| Lower risk of brain injury with a correctly worn motorcycle helmet | Up to 74% | WHO [2] |
Sources: NHTSA, Occupant Restraint Use in 2025 (May 2026) and Seat Belts; WHO, Road traffic injuries (July 2026).
Injuries, health and cost
Crash injuries reach far beyond the crash scene. The CDC (2026) reports more than 2.8 million emergency department visits for crash injuries in the U.S. in 2023 [8]. Crash deaths in 2023 led to more than $457 billion in total costs [8]. This includes medical costs and the value of lives lost.
Data compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Health and cost of U.S. crashes
| Measure | Figure | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency department visits for crash injuries | More than 2.8 million | 2023 | CDC [8] |
| Total cost of crash deaths | More than $457 billion | 2023 | CDC [8] |
| Economic cost of all crashes | $339.8 billion | 2019 | NHTSA [9] |
| Total harm to society, including lost quality of life | $1.37 trillion | 2019 | NHTSA [9] |
| Hospital stays related to traumatic brain injury (TBI), all causes | About 214,110 (more than 586 a day) | 2020 | CDC [10] |
| Share of spinal cord injuries caused by vehicle crashes | 37.1%, the top cause | Since 2015 | NSCISC [12] |
| New spinal cord injuries each year, all causes | About 18,482 | Latest estimate | NSCISC [12] |
| Crash survivors who develop PTSD | About 22% (about 1 in 5) | 2018 review | Lin and others [13] |
Sources: CDC (2026); NHTSA, The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2019 (Revised) (2023); NSCISC 2026 data sheet; Medicine (2018).
The TBI numbers include every cause. Falls cause nearly half of TBI hospital stays, and motor vehicle crashes are another common cause, the CDC notes [11]. The PTSD figure comes from a review of 15 studies with 6,804 crash survivors [13]. Results varied a lot between studies, from about 6% to 58%.
Road deaths around the world
The World Health Organization (2026) estimates that about 1.16 million people die in road crashes each year [2]. That is about 3,200 deaths a day (our calculation). Another 20 to 50 million people are injured, and many are left with a disability [2]. WHO’s Global status report on road safety 2023 counted 1.19 million deaths in 2021 [14].
Data compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Global road safety at a glance
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Road deaths each year | About 1.16 million | WHO [2] |
| Road deaths each day | About 3,200 (our calculation) | WHO [2] |
| People injured each year | 20 to 50 million | WHO [2] |
| Leading cause of death | For ages 5 to 29 | WHO [2] |
| Deaths among people of working age (18 to 59) | Two thirds | WHO [2] |
| Deaths among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists | More than half | WHO [2] |
| Risk for males compared with females | About 3 times higher | WHO [2] |
| Deaths in low and middle income countries | 92%, with about 60% of the world’s vehicles | WHO [2] |
| Cost to most countries | 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) | WHO [2] |
| Effect of speed | Each 1% rise in average speed raises the risk of a fatal crash by 4% | WHO [2] |
| United Nations goal | Cut road deaths and injuries in half by 2030 | WHO [2] |
Source: WHO, Road traffic injuries fact sheet (July 2026).
What the 94% human error figure means
You may read that 94% of crashes are caused by human error. This figure comes from a NHTSA study published in 2015 [15]. The study looked at a sample of 5,470 crashes from 2005 to 2007. It found that the driver was the critical reason in about 94% of crashes, plus or minus 2.2% [15]. The vehicle was the critical reason in about 2%, and the road or weather in about 2% [15].
NHTSA explains that the critical reason is the last event in the chain that led to a crash. It is not meant to be read as the cause of the crash [15]. Most crashes have several causes, such as road design, speed and vehicle safety. That is why safety experts use a Safe System approach that plans for human mistakes.
Data compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Driver errors in NHTSA’s 2015 crash study
| Type of driver error | Example | Share of driver related crashes |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition error | Not paying attention or not looking well enough | 41% |
| Decision error | Driving too fast for conditions or misjudging a gap | 33% |
| Performance error | Overcorrecting or poor steering control | 11% |
| Nonperformance error | Falling asleep at the wheel | 7% |
| Other driver error | Errors that fit no other group | 8% |
Source: NHTSA, Critical Reasons for Crashes Investigated in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (February 2015) [15].
Why numbers differ between sources
- Different counting rules. NHTSA counts deaths from crashes on public roads that happen within 30 days of the crash. The CDC uses death certificates and counts a wider set of motor vehicle deaths. That is why the CDC reported more than 44,000 motor vehicle deaths in 2023, while NHTSA counted 41,025 traffic deaths [1, 8].
- Estimates, not counts. Many countries do not record every road death, so WHO estimates the world total. WHO’s 2023 report gave 1.19 million deaths for 2021, and its 2026 fact sheet gives about 1.16 million a year [2, 14].
- Updates over time. Early estimates are later replaced by final counts. Always check the year and the source before you compare two numbers.
How to cite this page
You are welcome to quote the numbers on this page. Please name the original source shown next to each number, such as NHTSA or WHO, and the year of the data.
Suggested citation: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. Road safety statistics 2024: U.S. and global crash data. drivewithcare.org/road-safety-statistics/. Last reviewed October 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in car crashes in the U.S. in 2024?
According to NHTSA, 39,254 people died in U.S. motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2024 [1]. That is 4.3% fewer than in 2023.
How many car crashes happen in the U.S. each year?
Police reported 6,180,241 crashes in the U.S. in 2024 [1]. Of these, 36,297 were fatal crashes and 1,676,700 caused injuries.
What causes the most traffic deaths?
In 2024, alcohol impaired driving was involved in 30% of U.S. traffic deaths and speeding in 29% [1]. Skipping the seat belt is another big factor. Of the passenger vehicle occupants killed whose belt use was known, 48% were unbuckled [1, 7].
How many people die on the world’s roads each year?
About 1.16 million, according to the World Health Organization [2]. Another 20 to 50 million people are injured each year.
Are 94% of crashes caused by human error?
Not exactly. A 2015 NHTSA study found that the driver was the critical reason, the last event before the crash, in about 94% of crashes [15]. NHTSA says this is not meant to be read as the cause of the crash.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
A short list of risks shows up again and again in U.S. crash deaths: alcohol, speed, distraction and skipped seat belts. Each one is a choice you can control. Buckle up on every trip, drive sober, slow down and put the phone away.
Related articles
- Understanding traffic safety data: how to read crash statistics wisely
- Local crash data and safety maps: how to find and read your area’s data
- Speeding and speed management: why a few mph matter so much
- Graduated driver licensing: a parent’s roadmap from permit to full license
- Pedestrian safety for drivers: how to spot, yield to and protect walkers
- Motorcycle helmet safety: DOT standards, fit and when to replace
Sources and further reading
- 1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024. Traffic Safety Facts Research Note, DOT HS 813 791. April 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813791
- 2World Health Organization (WHO). Road traffic injuries (fact sheet). July 20, 2026. who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries
- 3Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality Facts 2024: Yearly snapshot. June 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/yearly-snapshot
- 4NHTSA. Distracted Driving. Accessed October 9, 2026. nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
- 5IIHS. Fatality Facts 2024: Teenagers. June 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/teenagers
- 6NHTSA. Occupant Restraint Use in 2025: Results From the NOPUS Controlled Intersection Study. DOT HS 813 820. May 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813820
- 7NHTSA. Seat Belts. Accessed October 9, 2026. nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts
- 8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About Transportation Safety. Updated April 23, 2026. cdc.gov/transportation-safety/about
- 9NHTSA. The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2019 (Revised). DOT HS 813 403. February 2023. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813403
- 10CDC. TBI Data. Updated April 27, 2026. cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/data-research
- 11CDC. Facts About TBI. August 4, 2025. cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/data-research/facts-stats
- 12National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Facts and Figures at a Glance. 2026 SCI Data Sheet. March 2026. sites.uab.edu/nscisc
- 13Lin W, Gong L, Xia M, Dai W. Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among road traffic accident survivors: a PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(3):e9693. doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000009693
- 14WHO. Global status report on road safety 2023. December 13, 2023. who.int/…/global-status-report-on-road-safety-2023
- 15NHTSA. Critical Reasons for Crashes Investigated in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey. Traffic Safety Facts Crash•Stats, DOT HS 812 115. February 2015. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/812115
This article reflects the safety priorities of traffic safety research and injury prevention. It is general education, not legal, medical or professional advice for any individual. Figures marked as our calculations are simple math from the cited data. Crash data are revised over time, so verify details with official sources. Reviewed October 2026.
Keep learning
Safe Driving Resource Center
Guides, self-checks and articles for drivers, parents of new drivers, and families recovering after a crash.
