Fatality Facts 2008

General

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Overview | Age and gender | Speeding | When they died

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among Americans 3-36 years old.¹ According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the total societal cost of these crashes exceeds $200 billion annually.² Contributing to the death toll are alcohol, speed, lack of safety belt use, and other problematic driver behaviors. Death rates vary by vehicle type, driver age and gender, and other factors.

In 1975, the U.S. Department of Transportation started an annual census of motor vehicle deaths, recording information on crash type, vehicle type, road type, driver characteristics, and a variety of other factors. Institute researchers analyze these data each year to quantify the public health problem of motor vehicle deaths.

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Overview

A total of 37,261 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2008. These deaths occurred in 34,017 crashes involving 50,430 motor vehicles. This is the lowest loss of life on our highways since 1975, the first year national records were collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Number of deaths, crashes, and motor vehicles in fatal crashes, 1975-2008
Year	Deaths	Crashes	Motor vehicles
1975	44,525	39,161	55,534
1976	45,523	39,747	56,084
1977	47,878	42,211	60,516
1978	50,331	44,433	64,144
1979	51,093	45,223	64,762
1980	51,091	45,284	63,485
1981	49,301	44,000	62,699
1982	43,945	39,092	56,455
1983	42,589	37,976	55,106
1984	44,257	39,631	57,972
1985	43,825	39,196	58,272
1986	46,087	41,090	60,792
1987	46,390	41,438	61,836
1988	47,087	42,130	62,703
1989	45,582	40,741	60,870
1990	44,599	39,836	59,292
1991	41,508	36,937	54,795
1992	39,250	34,942	52,227
1993	40,150	35,780	53,777
1994	40,716	36,254	54,911
1995	41,817	37,241	56,524
1996	42,065	37,494	57,347
1997	42,013	37,324	57,060
1998	41,501	37,107	56,922
1999	41,717	37,140	56,820
2000	41,945	37,526	57,594
2001	42,196	37,862	57,918
2002	43,005	38,491	58,426
2003	42,884	38,477	58,877
2004	42,836	38,444	58,729
2005	43,510	39,252	59,495
2006	42,708	38,648	58,094
2007	41,259	37,435	56,253
2008	37,261	34,017	50,430

Although the U.S. population has been growing steadily since 1975, the rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population has declined by 41 percent. During the past decade, the death rate increased for motorcyclists, but decreased for occupants of passenger vehicles (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans) and pedestrians, and was essentially unchanged for bicyclists and occupants of large trucks.

Motor vehicle crash deaths and deaths per 100,000 people, 1975-2008

 

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by type, 1975-2008
Year	Population	Passenger vehicle occupants		Pedestrians		Motorcyclists		Bicyclists		Large truck occupants		All motor vehicle deaths*
		Num	Rate	Num	Rate	Num	Rate	Num	Rate	Num	Rate	Num	Rate
1975	215,973,199	30,601	14.2	7,516	3.5	3,106	1.4	1,003	0.5	916	0.4	44,525	20.6
1976	218,035,164	31,724	14.5	7,427	3.4	3,232	1.5	914	0.4	1,100	0.5	45,523	20.9
1977	220,239,425	32,823	14.9	7,732	3.5	4,004	1.8	922	0.4	1,229	0.6	47,878	21.7
1978	222,584,545	34,923	15.7	7,795	3.5	4,448	2.0	892	0.4	1,315	0.6	50,331	22.6
1979	225,055,487	35,026	15.6	8,096	3.6	4,712	2.1	932	0.4	1,372	0.6	51,093	22.7
1980	227,224,719	34,996	15.4	8,070	3.6	4,955	2.2	965	0.4	1,183	0.5	51,091	22.5
1981	229,465,608	33,711	14.7	7,837	3.4	4,737	2.1	936	0.4	1,082	0.5	49,301	21.5
1982	231,664,496	29,656	12.8	7,331	3.2	4,267	1.8	864	0.4	917	0.4	43,945	19.0
1983	233,791,903	29,154	12.5	6,826	2.9	4,099	1.8	830	0.4	960	0.4	42,589	18.2
1984	235,824,783	30,093	12.8	7,025	3.0	4,425	1.9	838	0.4	1,040	0.4	44,257	18.8
1985	237,923,732	29,847	12.5	6,808	2.9	4,415	1.9	869	0.4	941	0.4	43,825	18.4
1986	240,132,841	32,224	13.4	6,779	2.8	4,309	1.8	929	0.4	892	0.4	46,087	19.2
1987	242,289,023	33,145	13.7	6,745	2.8	3,832	1.6	940	0.4	821	0.3	46,390	19.1
1988	244,498,836	34,105	13.9	6,870	2.8	3,491	1.4	901	0.4	886	0.4	47,087	19.3
1989	246,819,119	33,599	13.6	6,556	2.7	3,030	1.2	822	0.3	822	0.3	45,582	18.5
1990	249,464,396	32,711	13.1	6,482	2.6	3,128	1.3	853	0.3	684	0.3	44,599	17.9
1991	252,153,092	30,810	12.2	5,801	2.3	2,702	1.1	836	0.3	650	0.3	41,508	16.5
1992	255,029,699	29,457	11.6	5,549	2.2	2,291	0.9	717	0.3	580	0.2	39,250	15.4
1993	257,782,608	29,994	11.6	5,649	2.2	2,346	0.9	806	0.3	590	0.2	40,150	15.6
1994	260,327,021	30,820	11.8	5,489	2.1	2,215	0.9	796	0.3	658	0.3	40,716	15.6
1995	262,803,276	31,913	12.1	5,584	2.1	2,138	0.8	828	0.3	634	0.2	41,817	15.9
1996	265,228,572	32,353	12.2	5,449	2.1	2,077	0.8	761	0.3	602	0.2	42,065	15.9
1997	267,783,607	32,343	12.1	5,321	2.0	2,056	0.8	811	0.3	717	0.3	42,013	15.7
1998	270,248,003	31,781	11.8	5,228	1.9	2,227	0.8	757	0.3	739	0.3	41,501	15.4
1999	272,690,813	32,008	11.7	4,939	1.8	2,419	0.9	750	0.3	747	0.3	41,717	15.3
2000	282,192,162	32,109	11.4	4,763	1.7	2,829	1.0	689	0.2	737	0.3	41,945	14.9
2001	285,102,075	31,938	11.2	4,901	1.7	3,123	1.1	729	0.3	691	0.2	42,196	14.8
2002	287,941,220	32,724	11.4	4,851	1.7	3,187	1.1	663	0.2	675	0.2	43,005	14.9
2003	290,788,976	32,166	11.1	4,774	1.6	3,641	1.3	626	0.2	703	0.2	42,884	14.7
2004	293,655,404	31,750	10.8	4,675	1.6	3,904	1.3	722	0.2	743	0.3	42,836	14.6
2005	296,410,404	31,455	10.6	4,892	1.7	4,460	1.5	784	0.3	758	0.3	43,510	14.7
2006	299,398,484	30,628	10.2	4,795	1.6	4,699	1.6	769	0.3	774	0.3	42,708	14.3
2007	301,621,157	29,155	9.7	4,699	1.6	5,050	1.7	699	0.2	745	0.2	41,259	13.7
2008	304,059,724	25,428	8.4	4,378	1.4	5,091	1.7	714	0.2	617	0.2	37,261	12.3
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-eight percent of motor vehicle fatalities in 2008 were passenger vehicle occupants, 12 percent were pedestrians, 14 percent were motorcyclists, 2 percent were bicyclists, and 2 percent were occupants of large trucks. More motorcyclists were killed in 2008 than in any year since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting fatal crash data in 1975. In contrast, at 25,428, fewer passenger vehicle occupants died in crashes in 2008 than in any year in this time period.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by type, 1975-2008
Year	Passenger vehicle occupants		Pedestrians		Motorcyclists		Bicyclists		Large truck occupants		Other		All motor vehicle deaths
	Num	%	Num	%	Num	%	Num	%	Num	%	Num	%	Num
1975	30,601	69	7,516	17	3,106	7	1,003	2	916	2	1,383	3	44,525
1976	31,724	70	7,427	16	3,232	7	914	2	1,100	2	1,126	2	45,523
1977	32,823	69	7,732	16	4,004	8	922	2	1,229	3	1,168	2	47,878
1978	34,923	69	7,795	15	4,448	9	892	2	1,315	3	958	2	50,331
1979	35,026	69	8,096	16	4,712	9	932	2	1,372	3	955	2	51,093
1980	34,996	68	8,070	16	4,955	10	965	2	1,183	2	922	2	51,091
1981	33,711	68	7,837	16	4,737	10	936	2	1,082	2	998	2	49,301
1982	29,656	67	7,331	17	4,267	10	864	2	917	2	910	2	43,945
1983	29,154	68	6,826	16	4,099	10	830	2	960	2	720	2	42,589
1984	30,093	68	7,025	16	4,425	10	838	2	1,040	2	836	2	44,257
1985	29,847	68	6,808	16	4,415	10	869	2	941	2	945	2	43,825
1986	32,224	70	6,779	15	4,309	9	929	2	892	2	954	2	46,087
1987	33,145	71	6,745	15	3,832	8	940	2	821	2	907	2	46,390
1988	34,105	72	6,870	15	3,491	7	901	2	886	2	834	2	47,087
1989	33,599	74	6,556	14	3,030	7	822	2	822	2	753	2	45,582
1990	32,711	73	6,482	15	3,128	7	853	2	684	2	741	2	44,599
1991	30,810	74	5,801	14	2,702	7	836	2	650	2	709	2	41,508
1992	29,457	75	5,549	14	2,291	6	717	2	580	1	656	2	39,250
1993	29,994	75	5,649	14	2,346	6	806	2	590	1	765	2	40,150
1994	30,820	76	5,489	13	2,215	5	796	2	658	2	738	2	40,716
1995	31,913	76	5,584	13	2,138	5	828	2	634	2	720	2	41,817
1996	32,353	77	5,449	13	2,077	5	761	2	602	1	823	2	42,065
1997	32,343	77	5,321	13	2,056	5	811	2	717	2	765	2	42,013
1998	31,781	77	5,228	13	2,227	5	757	2	739	2	769	2	41,501
1999	32,008	77	4,939	12	2,419	6	750	2	747	2	854	2	41,717
2000	32,109	77	4,763	11	2,829	7	689	2	737	2	818	2	41,945
2001	31,938	76	4,901	12	3,123	7	729	2	691	2	814	2	42,196
2002	32,724	76	4,851	11	3,187	7	663	2	675	2	905	2	43,005
2003	32,166	75	4,774	11	3,641	8	626	1	703	2	974	2	42,884
2004	31,750	74	4,675	11	3,904	9	722	2	743	2	1,042	2	42,836
2005	31,455	72	4,892	11	4,460	10	784	2	758	2	1,161	3	43,510
2006	30,628	72	4,795	11	4,699	11	769	2	774	2	1,043	2	42,708
2007	29,155	71	4,699	11	5,050	12	699	2	745	2	911	2	41,259
2008	25,428	68	4,378	12	5,091	14	714	2	617	2	1,033	3	37,261

In 2007, the rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled reached an all-time low of 1.38. This is compared to a rate of 3.35 in 1975.³

Motor vehicle crash deaths and deaths per 100 million miles traveled, 1975-2008

 

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled, 1975-2008
Year	Deaths	Miles travelled (millions)	Rate
1975	44,525	1,330,074	3.35
1976	45,523	1,409,163	3.23
1977	47,878	1,476,567	3.24
1978	50,331	1,548,213	3.25
1979	51,093	1,529,133	3.34
1980	51,091	1,520,857	3.36
1981	49,301	1,550,271	3.18
1982	43,945	1,592,481	2.76
1983	42,589	1,649,106	2.58
1984	44,257	1,716,768	2.58
1985	43,825	1,774,762	2.47
1986	46,087	1,838,240	2.51
1987	46,390	1,924,327	2.41
1988	47,087	2,025,586	2.32
1989	45,582	2,107,040	2.16
1990	44,599	2,147,501	2.08
1991	41,508	2,172,214	1.91
1992	39,250	2,239,828	1.75
1993	40,150	2,296,585	1.75
1994	40,716	2,357,588	1.73
1995	41,817	2,422,775	1.73
1996	42,065	2,482,202	1.69
1997	42,013	2,560,373	1.64
1998	41,501	2,625,367	1.58
1999	41,717	2,691,335	1.55
2000	41,945	2,749,803	1.53
2001	42,196	2,781,462	1.52
2002	43,005	2,855,756	1.51
2003	42,884	2,890,893	1.48
2004	42,836	2,962,513	1.45
2005	43,510	2,989,807	1.46
2006	42,708	3,014,116	1.42
2007	41,259	2,996,232	1.38
2008	37,261	—	—

Age and gender

The rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people in 2008 was especially high among 16-24 year-olds. At all ages, males had higher death rates than females. Males ages 20-24 had the highest rate of motor vehicle crash deaths.

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age and gender, 2008
Age	Male			Female			Total*
	Population	Deaths	Rate	Population	Deaths	Rate	Population	Deaths	Rate
< 13	27,071,742	608	2.2	25,858,037	435	1.7	52,929,779	1,045	2.0
13-15	6,350,531	363	5.7	6,045,359	224	3.7	12,395,890	588	4.7
16-19	8,874,432	2,318	26.1	8,439,985	1,146	13.6	17,314,417	3,466	20.0
20-24	10,845,428	3,840	35.4	10,213,553	1,131	11.1	21,058,981	4,971	23.6
25-29	10,940,956	2,873	26.3	10,392,787	825	7.9	21,333,743	3,698	17.3
30-34	9,959,083	2,091	21.0	9,638,739	590	6.1	19,597,822	2,681	13.7
35-39	10,568,801	1,910	18.1	10,424,980	673	6.5	20,993,781	2,583	12.3
40-44	10,745,556	2,105	19.6	10,761,793	726	6.7	21,507,349	2,831	13.2
45-49	11,314,075	2,186	19.3	11,565,799	847	7.3	22,879,874	3,033	13.3
50-54	10,538,558	1,974	18.7	10,953,633	743	6.8	21,492,191	2,717	12.6
55-59	9,014,715	1,624	18.0	9,568,730	613	6.4	18,583,445	2,238	12.0
60-64	7,235,924	1,277	17.6	7,866,812	520	6.6	15,102,736	1,798	11.9
65-69	5,306,217	843	15.9	6,042,465	422	7.0	11,348,682	1,265	11.1
70-74	3,958,711	752	19.0	4,815,548	447	9.3	8,774,259	1,199	13.7
75-79	3,096,817	694	22.4	4,178,346	435	10.4	7,275,163	1,130	15.5
80-84	2,239,493	547	24.4	3,510,351	433	12.3	5,749,844	980	17.0
≥ 85	1,863,565	547	29.4	3,858,203	412	10.7	5,721,768	959	16.8
Total*	149,924,604	26,616	17.8	154,135,120	10,631	6.9	304,059,724	37,261	12.3
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Speeding

In 2008, speeding was a factor in 31 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. Speeding has been a factor in about one-third of crash deaths since 1998. Speeding was defined to include crashes in which the driver was issued a traffic citation for speeding or in which driver-related factors coded indicated speed as a factor (driving too fast for conditions, racing, or exceeding the posted speed limit).

Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor, 1999-2008
	Speeding-related		Not speeding-related		Total
	Num	%	Num	%	Num
1999	12,713	30	29,004	70	41,717
2000	12,552	30	29,393	70	41,945
2001	12,924	31	29,272	69	42,196
2002	13,799	32	29,206	68	43,005
2003	13,499	31	29,385	69	42,884
2004	13,291	31	29,545	69	42,836
2005	13,583	31	29,927	69	43,510
2006	13,609	32	29,099	68	42,708
2007	13,140	32	28,119	68	41,259
2008	11,674	31	25,587	69	37,261

In 2008, the percentage of crash deaths involving speeding was higher on minor roads (38 percent) than on interstates and freeways (31 percent) or on other major roads (28 percent).

Crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor by road type, 2008
	Speeding-related		Not speeding-related		Total
	Num	%	Num	%	Num
Interstates and freeways	1,457	31	3,218	69	4,675
Other major roads	5,770	28	14,722	72	20,492
Minor roads	3,789	38	6,302	62	10,091
All road types*	11,674	31	25,587	69	37,261
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

When they died

In 2008, August had the highest number of crash deaths of any month.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2008
Month	Deaths	%
January	2,828	8
February	2,821	8
March	2,802	8
April	2,949	8
May	3,195	9
June	3,276	9
July	3,256	9
August	3,549	10
September	3,095	8
October	3,327	9
November	3,089	8
December	3,074	8
Total	37,261	100

Fifty-one percent of crash deaths occur on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2008
Day of week	Deaths	%
Sunday	6,164	17
Monday	4,475	12
Tuesday	4,603	12
Wednesday	4,514	12
Thursday	4,687	13
Friday	5,971	16
Saturday	6,846	18
Total	37,261	100

Deaths occur most often between 3pm and 9pm (32 percent), followed by 9pm to 3am (28 percent).

Motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2008
Time of day	Deaths	%
Midnight-3am	4,918	13
3am-6am	3,057	8
6am-9am	3,484	9
9am-noon	3,644	10
Noon-3pm	4,759	13
3pm-6pm	5,802	16
6pm-9pm	5,855	16
9pm-midnight	5,456	15
Total*	37,261	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

References

¹National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. 2006. WISQARS leading cause of death reports, 1999-2006. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available: http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcaus10.html.

² Blincoe, L.J.; Seay, A.G.; Zaloshnja, E.; Miller, T.R.; Romano, E.O.; Luchter, S.; and Spicer R.S. 2002. The economic impact of motor vehicle crashes 2000. Report no. DOT HS-809-446. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

³ Federal Highway Administration. 2007. Highway statistics, 2006. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation.