Yearly snapshot | 2012

2012
All Fatality Facts topics

A total of 33,561 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2012. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2013. 2012 motor vehicle crashes: overview. Report no. DOT HS-811-856. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation. The U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent estimate of the annual economic cost of crashes was $277 billion dollars. Blincoe, L.J.; Miller, T.R.; Zaloshnja, E. and Lawrence, B.A. 2014. The economic and societal impact of motor vehicle crashes, 2010. Report no. DOT HS-812-013. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Contributing to the death toll are alcohol, speeding, 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).

Data subsections:

Trends

A total of 33,561 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2012. These deaths occurred in 30,800 crashes involving 45,637 motor vehicles. This was the first annual increase in deaths, fatal crashes and motor vehicles involved in fatal crashes since 2005.

Number of deaths, crashes and motor vehicles in fatal crashes, 1975-2012
YearDeathsCrashesMotor 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 37,423 34,172 50,660
2009 33,883 30,862 45,540
2010 32,999 30,296 44,862
2011 32,479 29,867 44,119
2012 33,561 30,800 45,637

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 about half. During the 38 years in which national fatal crash data have been collected, the death rate per 100,000 population for passenger vehicle occupants in 2012 was at an all-time low for the second consecutive year.

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by type, 1975-2012
YearPopulationPassenger vehicle occupantsPedestrians Motorcyclists Bicyclists Large truck occupants All motor vehicle deaths*
NumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRate
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 30,094 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 29,848 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 31,914 12.1 5,584 2.1 2,138 0.8 828 0.3 634 0.2 41,817 15.9
1996 265,228,572 32,354 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 25,547 8.4 4,414 1.5 5,112 1.7 716 0.2 615 0.2 37,423 12.3
2009 307,006,550 23,507 7.7 4,109 1.3 4,286 1.4 628 0.2 449 0.1 33,883 11.0
2010 308,745,538 22,351 7.2 4,302 1.4 4,324 1.4 621 0.2 475 0.2 32,999 10.7
2011 311,591,917 21,413 6.9 4,457 1.4 4,403 1.4 680 0.2 555 0.2 32,479 10.4
2012 313,914,040 21,795 6.9 4,743 1.5 4,667 1.5 722 0.2 591 0.2 33,561 10.7
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-five percent of motor vehicle fatalities in 2012 were passenger vehicle occupants, 14 percent were pedestrians, 14 percent were motorcyclists, 2 percent were bicyclists, and 2 percent were occupants of large trucks.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by type, 1975-2012
YearPassenger vehicle occupantsPedestrians Motorcyclists Bicyclists Large truck occupants Other All motor vehicle deaths
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number
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 30,094 68 7,025 16 4,425 10 838 2 1,040 2 835 2 44,257
1985 29,848 68 6,808 16 4,415 10 869 2 941 2 944 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 31,914 76 5,584 13 2,138 5 828 2 634 2 719 2 41,817
1996 32,354 77 5,449 13 2,077 5 761 2 602 1 822 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 25,547 68 4,414 12 5,112 14 716 2 615 2 1,019 3 37,423
2009 23,507 69 4,109 12 4,286 13 628 2 449 1 904 3 33,883
2010 22,351 68 4,302 13 4,324 13 621 2 475 1 926 3 32,999
2011 21,413 66 4,457 14 4,403 14 680 2 555 2 971 3 32,479
2012 21,795 65 4,743 14 4,667 14 722 2 591 2 1,043 3 33,561

The rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled increased slightly from an all-time low of 1.1 in 2011 to 1.13 in 2012. In contrast, the rate was 3.35 in 1975. Federal Highway Administration. 2013. Highway statistics, 2011. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation.

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled, 1975-2012
YearDeathsMiles 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 3,032,399 1.36
2008 37,423 2,973,509 1.26
2009 33,883 2,977,591 1.14
2010 32,999 2,966,506 1.11
2011 32,479 2,946,131 1.10
2012 33,561 2,968,815 1.13

Age and gender

At all ages, males had higher per capita crash death rates than females in 2012. Males ages 20-24 and 85 and older had the highest rates of crash deaths.

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age and gender, 2012
AgeMale Female Total*
PopulationDeathsRatePopulationDeathsRatePopulationDeathsRate
<13 27,010,635 530 2.0 25,861,937 422 1.6 52,872,572 952 1.8
13-15 6,350,267 242 3.8 6,065,273 169 2.8 12,415,540 411 3.3
16-19 8,844,501 1,613 18.2 8,372,187 796 9.5 17,216,688 2,412 14.0
20-24 11,549,456 3,183 27.6 11,033,747 1,063 9.6 22,583,203 4,248 18.8
25-29 10,844,886 2,461 22.7 10,553,440 804 7.6 21,398,326 3,265 15.3
30-34 10,493,906 1,973 18.8 10,417,089 662 6.4 20,910,995 2,637 12.6
35-39 9,714,613 1,651 17.0 9,773,586 553 5.7 19,488,199 2,205 11.3
40-44 10,458,994 1,692 16.2 10,569,227 636 6.0 21,028,221 2,329 11.1
45-49 10,726,625 1,831 17.1 10,962,854 616 5.6 21,689,479 2,447 11.3
50-54 11,080,245 1,996 18.0 11,499,014 741 6.4 22,579,259 2,737 12.1
55-59 10,068,409 1,736 17.2 10,704,108 629 5.9 20,772,517 2,366 11.4
60-64 8,534,485 1,407 16.5 9,279,200 524 5.6 17,813,685 1,931 10.8
65-69 6,606,856 1,032 15.6 7,370,497 449 6.1 13,977,353 1,481 10.6
70-74 4,596,006 772 16.8 5,412,033 438 8.1 10,008,039 1,211 12.1
75-79 3,291,452 603 18.3 4,198,131 375 8.9 7,489,583 979 13.1
80-84 2,356,698 542 23.0 3,426,353 406 11.8 5,783,051 948 16.4
85+ 1,964,033 502 25.6 3,923,297 439 11.2 5,887,330 941 16.0
Total* 154,492,067 23,808 15.4 159,421,973 9,733 6.1 313,914,040 33,561 10.7
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

From 1975 to 2012, the rate of deaths per 100,000 people declined by 77 percent for people 12 and younger (from 7.9 to 1.8), 68 percent for teenagers (from 29.4 to 9.5), 47 percent for people ages 20-34 (from 29.6 to 15.6), 35 percent for people ages 35-69 (from 17.5 to 11.3), and 46 percent for people 70 and older (from 25.9 to 14.0). 

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2012
Year <13 years 13-19 years 20-34 years 35-69 years 70+ years
PopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRate
1975 45,851,304 3,643 7.9 29,795,023 8,74829.4 50,998,09815,07429.6 74,764,82913,08017.5 14,563,945 3,77525.9
1976 45,000,704 3,424 7.6 29,909,414 9,35631.3 52,745,00515,51729.4 75,419,92113,13717.4 14,960,120 3,89626.0
1977 44,337,332 3,347 7.5 29,800,313 9,63332.3 54,497,44817,28731.7 76,203,08313,46017.7 15,401,249 3,85925.1
1978 43,907,467 3,367 7.7 29,543,252 9,94033.6 55,909,06318,88633.8 77,348,22214,02018.1 15,876,541 3,82424.1
1979 43,778,959 3,171 7.2 29,077,607 9,92034.1 57,499,19719,67534.2 78,311,10714,23218.2 16,388,617 3,77223.0
1980 43,914,342 3,048 6.9 28,486,487 9,52433.4 58,814,39120,11034.2 79,111,52214,21918.0 16,897,977 3,86122.8
1981 44,049,940 2,733 6.2 27,743,947 8,31530.0 60,563,41619,88732.8 79,785,59113,95017.5 17,322,714 3,87122.3
1982 44,131,596 2,573 5.8 27,160,586 7,32327.0 61,099,52417,46528.6 81,488,90212,68515.6 17,783,888 3,65520.6
1983 44,119,297 2,518 5.7 26,737,497 6,80525.5 61,840,15416,85327.3 82,861,20412,48815.1 18,233,751 3,73420.5
1984 43,978,044 2,422 5.5 26,435,885 6,95226.3 62,491,25517,57928.1 84,256,66113,00615.4 18,662,938 4,05221.7
1985 44,260,136 2,469 5.6 26,001,247 6,73725.9 62,961,15417,03127.1 85,628,41013,12615.3 19,072,785 4,20622.1
1986 44,755,454 2,537 5.7 25,592,481 7,46629.2 63,115,88918,13228.7 87,205,53713,26315.2 19,463,480 4,44522.8
1987 45,348,247 2,654 5.9 25,209,615 7,29328.9 63,032,29817,67628.0 88,808,04614,07415.8 19,890,817 4,55522.9
1988 45,942,966 2,701 5.9 25,004,445 7,24229.0 62,784,73917,61328.1 90,464,40614,45816.0 20,302,280 4,92524.3
1989 46,690,604 2,658 5.7 24,664,300 6,68827.1 62,494,05616,51226.4 92,250,76214,65115.9 20,719,397 4,94323.9
1990 47,472,527 2,332 4.9 24,404,795 6,36426.1 62,282,68316,36626.3 94,140,10814,56815.5 21,164,283 4,84422.9
1991 48,240,747 2,257 4.7 24,066,587 5,76023.9 62,025,75014,94924.1 96,068,11113,58714.1 21,751,897 4,84322.3
1992 48,903,668 2,165 4.4 24,163,175 5,21521.6 61,427,10013,44521.9 98,214,53913,41413.7 22,321,217 4,90122.0
1993 49,335,864 2,164 4.4 24,664,091 5,42122.0 60,582,33213,45622.2 100,399,64813,74813.7 22,800,673 5,22122.9
1994 49,692,462 2,301 4.6 25,219,838 5,63222.3 59,629,35113,02021.8 102,541,52514,25113.9 23,243,845 5,42523.3
1995 49,920,484 2,201 4.4 25,764,300 5,67522.0 58,712,40713,33022.7 104,712,32815,01814.3 23,693,757 5,50923.3
1996 50,085,188 2,186 4.4 26,357,198 5,81922.1 57,753,91012,86922.3 106,975,95315,49614.5 24,056,323 5,57823.2
1997 50,364,983 2,108 4.2 26,730,812 5,73021.4 57,046,56912,33421.6 109,232,42615,86014.5 24,408,817 5,87224.1
1998 50,527,476 2,032 4.0 27,174,728 5,61020.6 56,421,05311,78520.9 111,331,19516,18514.5 24,793,551 5,79823.4
1999 50,667,139 1,997 3.9 27,518,156 5,75220.9 55,961,40111,84021.2 113,451,31216,38414.4 25,092,805 5,65722.5
2000 52,219,423 1,888 3.6 28,326,412 5,68520.1 58,971,70912,17420.6 117,114,73916,70014.3 25,559,879 5,37921.0
2001 52,341,395 1,751 3.3 28,437,711 5,59419.7 59,465,06612,37520.8 119,060,43616,93414.2 25,797,467 5,42521.0
2002 52,332,306 1,617 3.1 28,644,313 5,95420.8 60,046,06812,60921.0 120,913,20717,37414.4 26,005,326 5,33220.5
2003 52,187,602 1,643 3.1 29,028,500 5,71819.7 60,599,35012,36520.4 122,772,57817,70514.4 26,200,946 5,36320.5
2004 52,151,406 1,645 3.2 29,400,392 5,64519.2 61,003,24012,62020.7 124,762,84817,70714.2 26,337,518 5,10619.4
2005 52,149,395 1,529 2.9 29,589,854 5,30017.9 61,180,77213,02321.3 126,831,71418,49114.6 26,658,669 5,04718.9
2006 52,306,908 1,430 2.7 29,772,198 5,15917.3 61,527,21913,14221.4 128,907,36118,23314.1 26,884,798 4,63617.2
2007 52,585,809 1,269 2.4 29,775,943 4,98116.7 61,623,32212,53120.3 130,500,56617,72513.6 27,135,517 4,63117.1
2008 52,929,779 1,047 2.0 29,710,307 4,07013.7 61,990,54611,40618.4 131,908,05816,53812.5 27,521,034 4,29115.6
2009 53,753,412 1,066 2.0 29,667,279 3,48011.7 63,105,881 9,94015.8 132,693,70815,34011.6 27,786,270 3,99514.4
2010 52,943,218 962 1.8 30,324,338 3,12110.3 62,649,947 9,68415.5 134,995,31415,01511.1 27,832,721 4,17115.0
2011 52,950,108 908 1.7 29,895,041 3,03310.1 63,944,330 9,63315.1 136,282,08514,78210.8 28,520,353 4,07114.3
2012 52,872,572 952 1.8 29,632,228 2,823 9.5 64,892,52410,15015.6 137,348,71315,49611.3 29,168,003 4,07914.0

Safety belt use

According to a national daytime observational survey of motorists, safety belt use was 86 percent among front seat occupants in 2012. Pickrell, T.M. and Ye, J.Y. 2013. Seat belt use in 2012 - overall results. Report no. DOT HS-811-691. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unrestrained vehicle occupants are more likely than restrained occupants to be fatally injured in a crash, so belt use is much lower among fatally injured occupants. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants 13 and older in 2012, 45 percent of drivers and 41 percent of passengers were belted.

Safety belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants 13 and older by seating position, 1991-2012
YearDriver Passenger
Belt usedUnbelted Unknown Belt usedUnbelted Unknown
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
1991 4,976 24 13,585 66 1,982 10 1,997 22 6,030 68 851 10
1992 5,255 27 12,477 64 1,827 9 2,042 24 5,701 67 790 9
1993 5,877 29 12,220 61 1,925 10 2,375 27 5,492 64 778 9
1994 6,538 32 12,332 60 1,759 9 2,564 29 5,423 62 731 8
1995 6,974 33 12,692 59 1,772 8 2,642 29 5,577 62 791 9
1996 7,368 34 12,331 57 1,919 9 2,750 30 5,706 62 807 9
1997 7,561 35 12,288 57 1,847 9 2,867 31 5,497 60 810 9
1998 7,797 36 12,033 56 1,786 8 2,814 32 5,169 59 725 8
1999 7,834 36 12,252 56 1,793 8 2,748 32 5,249 60 700 8
2000 8,199 38 11,841 54 1,754 8 2,957 33 5,212 58 744 8
2001 8,509 39 11,638 53 1,700 8 2,844 32 5,178 59 737 8
2002 8,786 39 12,028 53 1,705 8 3,151 35 5,093 57 687 8
2003 9,239 42 11,274 51 1,666 8 3,127 36 4,851 55 773 9
2004 9,456 43 11,027 50 1,450 7 3,132 37 4,768 56 622 7
2005 9,315 42 11,133 51 1,489 7 3,122 38 4,551 55 634 8
2006 9,162 42 10,874 50 1,532 7 2,964 38 4,250 54 678 9
2007 8,915 43 10,070 49 1,537 7 2,902 38 4,007 53 681 9
2008 7,794 43 9,160 50 1,301 7 2,536 39 3,495 54 473 7
2009 7,421 44 8,199 49 1,207 7 2,366 40 3,031 52 449 8
2010 7,307 46 7,497 47 1,215 8 2,285 41 2,872 51 457 8
2011 7,047 45 7,356 47 1,147 7 2,055 40 2,650 52 432 8
2012 7,190 45 7,487 47 1,154 7 2,137 41 2,647 51 456 9

Speeding

In 2012, speeding was a factor in 30 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. Speeding has been a factor in about one-third of crash deaths since 2003. 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, 2003-2012
Speeding-related Not speeding-relatedTotal
Number%Number%Number
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 11,767 31 25,656 69 37,423
2009 10,664 31 23,219 69 33,883
2010 10,508 32 22,491 68 32,999
2011 10,001 31 22,478 69 32,479
2012 10,219 30 23,342 70 33,561

In 2012, the percentage of crash deaths involving speeding was higher on minor roads (38 percent) than on interstates and freeways (30 percent) or on other major roads (27 percent).

Crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor by road type, 2012
Speeding-related Not speeding-relatedTotal
Number%Number%Number
Interstates and freeways 1,185 30 2,789 70 3,974
Other major roads 5,180 27 14,093 73 19,273
Minor roads 3,322 38 5,526 62 8,848
All road types* 10,219 30 23,342 70 33,561
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

When they died

In 2012, the month of February had the lowest number of crash deaths.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2012
MonthDeaths%
January 2,491 7
February 2,325 7
March 2,688 8
April 2,639 8
May 2,922 9
June 3,022 9
July 3,126 9
August 3,073 9
September 2,928 9
October 2,849 8
November 2,798 8
December 2,700 8
Total 33,561 100

In 2012, 50 percent of crash deaths occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2012
Day of weekDeaths%
Sunday 5,588 17
Monday 4,221 13
Tuesday 4,006 12
Wednesday 4,227 13
Thursday 4,277 13
Friday 5,040 15
Saturday 6,202 18
Total 33,561 100

In 2012, crash deaths occurred most often between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. (32 percent).

Motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2012
Time of dayDeaths%
Midnight - 3 a.m. 4,262 13
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. 2,790 8
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. 3,201 10
9 a.m. - noon 3,258 10
Noon - 3 p.m. 4,340 13
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 5,415 16
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 5,399 16
9 p.m. - midnight 4,636 14
Total* 33,561 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

References