Fatality Facts 2020State by state
Overview
The number and types of motor vehicle crash deaths differ widely among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. A state's population has an obvious effect on the number of motor vehicle deaths. Fatality rates per capita and per vehicle miles traveled provide a way of examining motor vehicle deaths relative to the population and amount of driving. However, many factors can affect these rates, including types of vehicles driven, travel speeds, rates of licensure, state traffic laws, emergency care capabilities, weather and topography.
The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Posted May 2022.
Fatal crash totals
There were 35,766 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2020 in which 38,824 deaths occurred. This resulted in 11.7 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.34 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The fatality rate per 100,000 people ranged from 4.9 in Massachusetts to 25.4 in Mississippi. The death rate per 100 million miles traveled ranged from 0.63 in Massachusetts to 1.97 in South Carolina.
Population, fatal motor vehicle crashes, motor vehicle crash deaths and motor vehicle crash death rates per state, 2020 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Population | Vehicle miles traveled (millions) | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000 population | Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled |
Alabama | 5,024,803 | 67,921 | 852 | 934 | 18.6 | 1.38 |
Alaska | 732,441 | 5,306 | 53 | 64 | 8.7 | 1.21 |
Arizona | 7,177,986 | 65,758 | 967 | 1,054 | 14.7 | 1.60 |
Arkansas | 3,012,232 | 33,919 | 585 | 638 | 21.2 | 1.88 |
California | 39,499,738 | 299,812 | 3,558 | 3,847 | 9.7 | 1.28 |
Colorado | 5,784,308 | 48,642 | 574 | 622 | 10.8 | 1.28 |
Connecticut | 3,600,260 | 29,845 | 279 | 295 | 8.2 | 0.99 |
Delaware | 991,886 | 8,345 | 104 | 116 | 11.7 | 1.39 |
District of Columbia | 690,093 | 3,030 | 34 | 36 | 5.2 | 1.19 |
Florida | 21,569,932 | 208,076 | 3,098 | 3,331 | 15.4 | 1.60 |
Georgia | 10,725,800 | 115,967 | 1,522 | 1,664 | 15.5 | 1.43 |
Hawaii | 1,451,911 | 8,785 | 81 | 85 | 5.9 | 0.97 |
Idaho | 1,847,772 | 17,406 | 188 | 214 | 11.6 | 1.23 |
Illinois | 12,785,245 | 94,121 | 1,087 | 1,194 | 9.3 | 1.27 |
Indiana | 6,785,644 | 76,608 | 815 | 897 | 13.2 | 1.17 |
Iowa | 3,188,669 | 29,751 | 304 | 337 | 10.6 | 1.13 |
Kansas | 2,935,880 | 27,854 | 382 | 426 | 14.5 | 1.53 |
Kentucky | 4,503,958 | 46,536 | 709 | 780 | 17.3 | 1.68 |
Louisiana | 4,651,203 | 48,374 | 762 | 828 | 17.8 | 1.71 |
Maine | 1,362,280 | 13,086 | 151 | 164 | 12.0 | 1.25 |
Maryland | 6,172,679 | 50,885 | 540 | 567 | 9.2 | 1.11 |
Massachusetts | 7,022,220 | 54,127 | 327 | 343 | 4.9 | 0.63 |
Michigan | 10,067,664 | 86,547 | 1,011 | 1,084 | 10.8 | 1.25 |
Minnesota | 5,707,165 | 51,619 | 369 | 394 | 6.9 | 0.76 |
Mississippi | 2,956,870 | 39,665 | 687 | 752 | 25.4 | 1.90 |
Missouri | 6,154,481 | 72,797 | 914 | 987 | 16.0 | 1.36 |
Montana | 1,086,193 | 12,104 | 190 | 213 | 19.6 | 1.76 |
Nebraska | 1,961,455 | 19,432 | 217 | 233 | 11.9 | 1.20 |
Nevada | 3,114,071 | 25,231 | 293 | 317 | 10.2 | 1.26 |
New Hampshire | 1,377,848 | 11,956 | 98 | 104 | 7.5 | 0.87 |
New Jersey | 9,279,743 | 66,341 | 547 | 584 | 6.3 | 0.88 |
New Mexico | 2,117,566 | 23,756 | 365 | 398 | 18.8 | 1.68 |
New York | 20,154,933 | 102,477 | 963 | 1,046 | 5.2 | 1.02 |
North Carolina | 10,457,177 | 106,342 | 1,412 | 1,538 | 14.7 | 1.45 |
North Dakota | 778,962 | 8,768 | 96 | 100 | 12.8 | 1.14 |
Ohio | 11,790,587 | 103,115 | 1,154 | 1,230 | 10.4 | 1.19 |
Oklahoma | 3,962,031 | 42,000 | 599 | 652 | 16.5 | 1.55 |
Oregon | 4,241,544 | 32,298 | 461 | 508 | 12.0 | 1.57 |
Pennsylvania | 12,989,625 | 87,982 | 1,060 | 1,129 | 8.7 | 1.28 |
Rhode Island | 1,096,229 | 6,864 | 66 | 67 | 6.1 | 0.98 |
South Carolina | 5,130,729 | 53,972 | 962 | 1,064 | 20.7 | 1.97 |
South Dakota | 887,099 | 9,743 | 132 | 141 | 15.9 | 1.45 |
Tennessee | 6,920,119 | 76,392 | 1,119 | 1,217 | 17.6 | 1.59 |
Texas | 29,217,653 | 260,582 | 3,520 | 3,874 | 13.3 | 1.49 |
Utah | 3,281,684 | 30,251 | 256 | 276 | 8.4 | 0.91 |
Vermont | 642,495 | 6,007 | 58 | 62 | 9.6 | 1.03 |
Virginia | 8,632,044 | 76,110 | 796 | 850 | 9.8 | 1.12 |
Washington | 7,718,785 | 53,658 | 525 | 560 | 7.3 | 1.04 |
West Virginia | 1,789,798 | 16,054 | 249 | 267 | 14.9 | 1.66 |
Wisconsin | 5,892,323 | 57,600 | 561 | 614 | 10.4 | 1.07 |
Wyoming | 577,267 | 9,800 | 114 | 127 | 22.0 | 1.30 |
U.S. total | 331,501,080 | 2,903,617 | 35,766 | 38,824 | 11.7 | 1.34 |
Deaths by road user
In 2020, the types of motor vehicle crash deaths varied across states. For example, Wyoming had the highest percentage of deaths involving SUV and pickup occupants (48 percent) and the lowest percentage of deaths involving car occupants (21 percent). In contrast, Vermont had the highest percentage of deaths involving car occupants (44 percent) and a relatively low percentage of deaths involving SUV and pickup occupants (16 percent). Hawaii reported relatively low proportions of fatalities for both cars (28 percent) and SUVs and pickups (20 percent), but a relatively high percentage of pedestrian deaths (25 percent). Florida and Hawaii tied for the highest percentage of crash deaths involving bicyclists (5 percent), and New Jersey had the highest percentage involving pedestrians (30 percent).
Motor vehicle crash deaths by road user type and state, 2020 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Car occupants | Pickup and SUV occupants | Large truck occupants | Motorcyclists | Pedestrians | Bicyclists | Total* | |||||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Alabama | 393 | 42 | 311 | 33 | 25 | 3 | 78 | 8 | 101 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 934 | 100 |
Alaska | 14 | 22 | 25 | 39 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 64 | 100 |
Arizona | 307 | 29 | 194 | 18 | 15 | 1 | 161 | 15 | 222 | 21 | 33 | 3 | 1,054 | 100 |
Arkansas | 194 | 30 | 233 | 37 | 18 | 3 | 80 | 13 | 81 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 638 | 100 |
California | 1,378 | 36 | 674 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 539 | 14 | 986 | 26 | 129 | 3 | 3,847 | 100 |
Colorado | 165 | 27 | 187 | 30 | 17 | 3 | 140 | 23 | 87 | 14 | 15 | 2 | 622 | 100 |
Connecticut | 113 | 38 | 54 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 58 | 20 | 56 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 295 | 100 |
Delaware | 40 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 13 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 116 | 100 |
District of Columbia | 13 | 36 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 10 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 100 |
Florida | 1,049 | 31 | 691 | 21 | 30 | 1 | 600 | 18 | 696 | 21 | 167 | 5 | 3,331 | 100 |
Georgia | 581 | 35 | 483 | 29 | 29 | 2 | 192 | 12 | 279 | 17 | 32 | 2 | 1,664 | 100 |
Hawaii | 24 | 28 | 17 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 85 | 100 |
Idaho | 85 | 40 | 71 | 33 | 6 | 3 | 27 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 214 | 100 |
Illinois | 479 | 40 | 297 | 25 | 20 | 2 | 153 | 13 | 176 | 15 | 30 | 3 | 1,194 | 100 |
Indiana | 348 | 39 | 236 | 26 | 19 | 2 | 151 | 17 | 93 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 897 | 100 |
Iowa | 117 | 35 | 85 | 25 | 13 | 4 | 64 | 19 | 27 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 337 | 100 |
Kansas | 138 | 32 | 139 | 33 | 12 | 3 | 65 | 15 | 46 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 426 | 100 |
Kentucky | 322 | 41 | 218 | 28 | 17 | 2 | 92 | 12 | 91 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 780 | 100 |
Louisiana | 263 | 32 | 267 | 32 | 10 | 1 | 78 | 9 | 144 | 17 | 34 | 4 | 828 | 100 |
Maine | 55 | 34 | 61 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 164 | 100 |
Maryland | 219 | 39 | 102 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 85 | 15 | 130 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 567 | 100 |
Massachusetts | 139 | 41 | 73 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 15 | 52 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 343 | 100 |
Michigan | 342 | 32 | 320 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 170 | 16 | 171 | 16 | 38 | 4 | 1,084 | 100 |
Minnesota | 130 | 33 | 115 | 29 | 8 | 2 | 66 | 17 | 45 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 394 | 100 |
Mississippi | 299 | 40 | 231 | 31 | 8 | 1 | 62 | 8 | 106 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 752 | 100 |
Missouri | 395 | 40 | 283 | 29 | 17 | 2 | 123 | 12 | 128 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 987 | 100 |
Montana | 76 | 36 | 77 | 36 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 14 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 213 | 100 |
Nebraska | 84 | 36 | 79 | 34 | 8 | 3 | 34 | 15 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 233 | 100 |
Nevada | 88 | 28 | 68 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 58 | 18 | 79 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 317 | 100 |
New Hampshire | 39 | 38 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 24 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 104 | 100 |
New Jersey | 201 | 34 | 95 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 78 | 13 | 173 | 30 | 18 | 3 | 584 | 100 |
New Mexico | 103 | 26 | 137 | 34 | 10 | 3 | 46 | 12 | 79 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 398 | 100 |
New York | 332 | 32 | 168 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 200 | 19 | 231 | 22 | 47 | 4 | 1,046 | 100 |
North Carolina | 648 | 42 | 387 | 25 | 18 | 1 | 192 | 12 | 228 | 15 | 26 | 2 | 1,538 | 100 |
North Dakota | 22 | 22 | 40 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 100 |
Ohio | 466 | 38 | 326 | 27 | 15 | 1 | 211 | 17 | 159 | 13 | 18 | 1 | 1,230 | 100 |
Oklahoma | 198 | 30 | 254 | 39 | 8 | 1 | 63 | 10 | 85 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 652 | 100 |
Oregon | 167 | 33 | 128 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 68 | 13 | 71 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 508 | 100 |
Pennsylvania | 429 | 38 | 236 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 219 | 19 | 143 | 13 | 20 | 2 | 1,129 | 100 |
Rhode Island | 29 | 43 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 19 | 17 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 67 | 100 |
South Carolina | 406 | 38 | 281 | 26 | 16 | 2 | 137 | 13 | 187 | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1,064 | 100 |
South Dakota | 33 | 23 | 58 | 41 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 141 | 100 |
Tennessee | 469 | 39 | 343 | 28 | 28 | 2 | 151 | 12 | 172 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 1,217 | 100 |
Texas | 1,209 | 31 | 1,232 | 32 | 80 | 2 | 483 | 12 | 687 | 18 | 79 | 2 | 3,874 | 100 |
Utah | 99 | 36 | 76 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 44 | 16 | 33 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 276 | 100 |
Vermont | 27 | 44 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 62 | 100 |
Virginia | 324 | 38 | 253 | 30 | 24 | 3 | 101 | 12 | 111 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 850 | 100 |
Washington | 202 | 36 | 131 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 91 | 16 | 97 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 560 | 100 |
West Virginia | 77 | 29 | 100 | 37 | 8 | 3 | 38 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 267 | 100 |
Wisconsin | 221 | 36 | 178 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 116 | 19 | 50 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 614 | 100 |
Wyoming | 27 | 21 | 61 | 48 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 127 | 100 |
U.S. total | 13,578 | 35 | 10,147 | 26 | 608 | 2 | 5,579 | 14 | 6,516 | 17 | 932 | 2 | 38,824 | 100 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
Crash types
Nationwide, 55 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2020 occurred in single-vehicle crashes. Montana and Rhode Island tied for the highest percentage of deaths in single-vehicle crashes (70 percent), while Delaware had the highest percentage of deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes (53 percent).
Deaths by crash type and state, 2020 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Single-vehicle | Multiple-vehicle | All crashes | |||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Alabama | 489 | 52 | 445 | 48 | 934 | 100 |
Alaska | 33 | 52 | 31 | 48 | 64 | 100 |
Arizona | 578 | 55 | 476 | 45 | 1,054 | 100 |
Arkansas | 366 | 57 | 272 | 43 | 638 | 100 |
California | 2,260 | 59 | 1,587 | 41 | 3,847 | 100 |
Colorado | 355 | 57 | 267 | 43 | 622 | 100 |
Connecticut | 169 | 57 | 126 | 43 | 295 | 100 |
Delaware | 54 | 47 | 62 | 53 | 116 | 100 |
District of Columbia | 18 | 50 | 18 | 50 | 36 | 100 |
Florida | 1,714 | 51 | 1,617 | 49 | 3,331 | 100 |
Georgia | 854 | 51 | 810 | 49 | 1,664 | 100 |
Hawaii | 52 | 61 | 33 | 39 | 85 | 100 |
Idaho | 111 | 52 | 103 | 48 | 214 | 100 |
Illinois | 631 | 53 | 563 | 47 | 1,194 | 100 |
Indiana | 455 | 51 | 442 | 49 | 897 | 100 |
Iowa | 166 | 49 | 171 | 51 | 337 | 100 |
Kansas | 215 | 50 | 211 | 50 | 426 | 100 |
Kentucky | 436 | 56 | 344 | 44 | 780 | 100 |
Louisiana | 480 | 58 | 348 | 42 | 828 | 100 |
Maine | 109 | 66 | 55 | 34 | 164 | 100 |
Maryland | 310 | 55 | 257 | 45 | 567 | 100 |
Massachusetts | 193 | 56 | 150 | 44 | 343 | 100 |
Michigan | 558 | 51 | 526 | 49 | 1,084 | 100 |
Minnesota | 225 | 57 | 169 | 43 | 394 | 100 |
Mississippi | 455 | 61 | 297 | 39 | 752 | 100 |
Missouri | 560 | 57 | 427 | 43 | 987 | 100 |
Montana | 149 | 70 | 64 | 30 | 213 | 100 |
Nebraska | 116 | 50 | 117 | 50 | 233 | 100 |
Nevada | 181 | 57 | 136 | 43 | 317 | 100 |
New Hampshire | 61 | 59 | 43 | 41 | 104 | 100 |
New Jersey | 341 | 58 | 243 | 42 | 584 | 100 |
New Mexico | 237 | 60 | 161 | 40 | 398 | 100 |
New York | 588 | 56 | 458 | 44 | 1,046 | 100 |
North Carolina | 818 | 53 | 720 | 47 | 1,538 | 100 |
North Dakota | 61 | 61 | 39 | 39 | 100 | 100 |
Ohio | 655 | 53 | 575 | 47 | 1,230 | 100 |
Oklahoma | 342 | 52 | 310 | 48 | 652 | 100 |
Oregon | 292 | 57 | 216 | 43 | 508 | 100 |
Pennsylvania | 623 | 55 | 506 | 45 | 1,129 | 100 |
Rhode Island | 47 | 70 | 20 | 30 | 67 | 100 |
South Carolina | 592 | 56 | 472 | 44 | 1,064 | 100 |
South Dakota | 77 | 55 | 64 | 45 | 141 | 100 |
Tennessee | 622 | 51 | 595 | 49 | 1,217 | 100 |
Texas | 2,017 | 52 | 1,857 | 48 | 3,874 | 100 |
Utah | 148 | 54 | 128 | 46 | 276 | 100 |
Vermont | 41 | 66 | 21 | 34 | 62 | 100 |
Virginia | 472 | 56 | 378 | 44 | 850 | 100 |
Washington | 310 | 55 | 250 | 45 | 560 | 100 |
West Virginia | 146 | 55 | 121 | 45 | 267 | 100 |
Wisconsin | 341 | 56 | 273 | 44 | 614 | 100 |
Wyoming | 76 | 60 | 51 | 40 | 127 | 100 |
U.S. total | 21,199 | 55 | 17,625 | 45 | 38,824 | 100 |
Alcohol involvement
Some states report blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for only a small percentage of passenger vehicle drivers. If BAC is missing for a driver, it is estimated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's multiple imputation model.
For the nation in 2020, BAC was reported for 58 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers. Reporting rates varied substantially, from a high of 97 percent (Hawaii) to a low of 9 percent (Mississippi). Twenty-nine states had BAC reporting rates of at least 70 percent. Among these states, Rhode Island had the highest estimated percentage of fatally injured drivers with BACs of 0.08 percent or higher (50 percent), while Utah had the lowest (18 percent).
Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BAC ≥ 0.08 percent by state, 2020 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Total drivers killed | Drivers killed with known BAC results | Estimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08 | ||
Number | Number | % | Number | % | |
Alabama | 546 | 274 | 50 | ‡ | ‡ |
Alaska | 26 | 25 | 96 | 5 | 19 |
Arizona | 374 | 135 | 36 | ‡ | ‡ |
Arkansas | 337 | 250 | 74 | 89 | 27 |
California | 1,550 | 880 | 57 | ‡ | ‡ |
Colorado | 254 | 222 | 87 | 84 | 33 |
Connecticut | 131 | 86 | 66 | ‡ | ‡ |
Delaware | 61 | 49 | 80 | 17 | 28 |
District of Columbia | 12 | 11 | 92 | 3 | 28 |
Florida | 1,301 | 747 | 57 | ‡ | ‡ |
Georgia | 807 | 349 | 43 | ‡ | ‡ |
Hawaii | 30 | 29 | 97 | 9 | 30 |
Idaho | 121 | 82 | 68 | ‡ | ‡ |
Illinois | 586 | 283 | 48 | ‡ | ‡ |
Indiana | 441 | 178 | 40 | ‡ | ‡ |
Iowa | 158 | 89 | 56 | ‡ | ‡ |
Kansas | 221 | 67 | 30 | ‡ | ‡ |
Kentucky | 417 | 317 | 76 | 104 | 25 |
Louisiana | 425 | 338 | 80 | 127 | 30 |
Maine | 97 | 80 | 82 | 41 | 42 |
Maryland | 260 | 209 | 80 | 99 | 38 |
Massachusetts | 181 | 151 | 83 | 58 | 32 |
Michigan | 498 | 174 | 35 | ‡ | ‡ |
Minnesota | 192 | 144 | 75 | 48 | 25 |
Mississippi | 405 | 35 | 9 | ‡ | ‡ |
Missouri | 535 | 359 | 67 | ‡ | ‡ |
Montana | 114 | 90 | 79 | 55 | 48 |
Nebraska | 134 | 103 | 77 | 50 | 37 |
Nevada | 121 | 91 | 75 | 34 | 28 |
New Hampshire | 47 | 37 | 79 | 19 | 40 |
New Jersey | 217 | 180 | 83 | 59 | 27 |
New Mexico | 185 | 143 | 77 | 69 | 37 |
New York | 368 | 215 | 58 | ‡ | ‡ |
North Carolina | 821 | 195 | 24 | ‡ | ‡ |
North Dakota | 52 | 42 | 81 | 21 | 41 |
Ohio | 612 | 515 | 84 | 201 | 33 |
Oklahoma | 341 | 310 | 91 | 100 | 29 |
Oregon | 229 | 64 | 28 | ‡ | ‡ |
Pennsylvania | 535 | 326 | 61 | ‡ | ‡ |
Rhode Island | 29 | 23 | 79 | 14 | 50 |
South Carolina | 547 | 413 | 76 | 182 | 33 |
South Dakota | 75 | 65 | 87 | 25 | 33 |
Tennessee | 626 | 320 | 51 | ‡ | ‡ |
Texas | 1,841 | 842 | 46 | ‡ | ‡ |
Utah | 129 | 108 | 84 | 24 | 18 |
Vermont | 29 | 23 | 79 | 8 | 29 |
Virginia | 476 | 404 | 85 | 168 | 35 |
Washington | 259 | 207 | 80 | 92 | 36 |
West Virginia | 144 | 124 | 86 | 34 | 24 |
Wisconsin | 295 | 98 | 33 | ‡ | ‡ |
Wyoming | 69 | 42 | 61 | ‡ | ‡ |
U.S. total | 18,261 | 10,543 | 58 | 5,550 | 30 |
‡ Cells with missing data have insufficient reporting of results for reliably estimating percent of fatally injured drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 Percent. |
Restraint use
Based on daytime observational surveys, the nationwide rate of seat belt use among front seat passenger vehicle occupants in 2020 was 90 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest observed seat belt use for front seat occupants, at 96 percent, while South Dakota had the lowest, at 68 percent.
Rates of restraint use among fatally injured motor vehicle occupants will be lower than the overall observed restraint use rate because unrestrained occupants are more likely than restrained ones to be fatally injured in a crash. Restrained fatally injured occupants include occupants in child safety seats and occupants restrained by seat belts. In 2020, just 44 percent of fatally injured occupants were restrained. New York had the highest restraint use percentage among fatally injured occupants at 55 percent. Nebraska had the lowest restraint use among fatally injured occupants at just 23 percent.
Rates of observed daytime front-seat belt use and number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants by restraint use and state, 2020 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State and percent of observed seat belt use | Restrained fatally injured occupants | Unrestrained fatally injured occupants | Unknown restraint status of fatally injured occupants | Total fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants | ||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | ||
Alabama | NA | 264 | 37 | 384 | 54 | 58 | 8 | 706 |
Alaska | NA | 18 | 46 | 14 | 36 | 7 | 18 | 39 |
Arizona | NA | 208 | 41 | 236 | 46 | 67 | 13 | 511 |
Arkansas | NA | 175 | 40 | 207 | 48 | 51 | 12 | 433 |
California | NA | 1,111 | 54 | 761 | 37 | 203 | 10 | 2,075 |
Colorado | 86 | 142 | 40 | 193 | 55 | 19 | 5 | 354 |
Connecticut | NA | 65 | 39 | 65 | 39 | 38 | 23 | 168 |
Delaware | NA | 32 | 44 | 34 | 47 | 7 | 10 | 73 |
District of Columbia | 96 | 7 | 39 | 6 | 33 | 5 | 28 | 18 |
Florida | NA | 901 | 51 | 824 | 47 | 35 | 2 | 1,760 |
Georgia | NA | 512 | 47 | 468 | 43 | 102 | 9 | 1,082 |
Hawaii | NA | 12 | 29 | 13 | 32 | 16 | 39 | 41 |
Idaho | NA | 59 | 37 | 84 | 53 | 15 | 9 | 158 |
Illinois | NA | 304 | 39 | 298 | 38 | 184 | 23 | 786 |
Indiana | NA | 273 | 46 | 227 | 38 | 93 | 16 | 593 |
Iowa | 95 | 90 | 44 | 92 | 45 | 24 | 12 | 206 |
Kansas | 85 | 125 | 44 | 132 | 46 | 29 | 10 | 286 |
Kentucky | NA | 246 | 45 | 297 | 54 | 2 | <1 | 545 |
Louisiana | NA | 200 | 37 | 300 | 56 | 36 | 7 | 536 |
Maine | NA | 50 | 42 | 68 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 118 |
Maryland | 90 | 134 | 41 | 134 | 41 | 55 | 17 | 323 |
Massachusetts | NA | 60 | 28 | 98 | 46 | 56 | 26 | 214 |
Michigan | NA | 294 | 44 | 221 | 33 | 155 | 23 | 670 |
Minnesota | NA | 109 | 44 | 102 | 41 | 37 | 15 | 248 |
Mississippi | 79 | 223 | 41 | 229 | 42 | 87 | 16 | 539 |
Missouri | 86 | 201 | 29 | 428 | 62 | 57 | 8 | 686 |
Montana | 90 | 57 | 37 | 96 | 62 | 1 | <1 | 154 |
Nebraska | 81 | 37 | 23 | 105 | 64 | 21 | 13 | 163 |
Nevada | NA | 64 | 41 | 74 | 47 | 18 | 12 | 156 |
New Hampshire | 72 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 67 | 5 | 8 | 60 |
New Jersey | NA | 147 | 49 | 126 | 42 | 29 | 10 | 302 |
New Mexico | NA | 99 | 41 | 131 | 54 | 11 | 5 | 241 |
New York | NA | 285 | 55 | 178 | 34 | 55 | 11 | 518 |
North Carolina | 87 | 502 | 48 | 503 | 48 | 37 | 4 | 1,042 |
North Dakota | 84 | 17 | 27 | 39 | 63 | 6 | 10 | 62 |
Ohio | NA | 305 | 38 | 398 | 50 | 96 | 12 | 799 |
Oklahoma | NA | 189 | 41 | 224 | 49 | 44 | 10 | 457 |
Oregon | 95 | 162 | 54 | 94 | 31 | 44 | 15 | 300 |
Pennsylvania | 89 | 220 | 33 | 342 | 51 | 114 | 17 | 676 |
Rhode Island | NA | 11 | 32 | 17 | 50 | 6 | 18 | 34 |
South Carolina | NA | 295 | 42 | 372 | 53 | 32 | 5 | 699 |
South Dakota | 68 | 29 | 31 | 58 | 62 | 6 | 6 | 93 |
Tennessee | NA | 354 | 43 | 395 | 48 | 72 | 9 | 821 |
Texas | NA | 1,173 | 48 | 1,032 | 42 | 260 | 11 | 2,465 |
Utah | NA | 85 | 48 | 66 | 37 | 26 | 15 | 177 |
Vermont | 89 | 14 | 37 | 23 | 61 | 1 | 3 | 38 |
Virginia | NA | 238 | 40 | 343 | 58 | 7 | 1 | 588 |
Washington | 93 | 168 | 50 | 113 | 34 | 55 | 16 | 336 |
West Virginia | NA | 65 | 37 | 83 | 47 | 30 | 17 | 178 |
Wisconsin | 89 | 151 | 38 | 179 | 45 | 71 | 18 | 401 |
Wyoming | 83 | 43 | 47 | 45 | 49 | 3 | 3 | 91 |
U.S. total | 90 | 10,540 | 44 | 10,991 | 46 | 2,488 | 10 | 24,019 |
Many of the observed seat belt usage numbers are not available (NA) due to disruptions caused by the pandemic. |
Rural versus urban
Nationwide, 43 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2020 occurred in rural areas. The states with the highest percentage of crash deaths on rural roads were Montana (89 percent), Maine (80 percent), and Wyoming (80 percent). The states with the lowest percentage were Massachusetts (8 percent), New Jersey (9 percent), and Hawaii (11 percent). The District of Columbia had zero crash deaths in rural areas because its entirety is coded as an urban area.
Number and percent of motor vehicle crash deaths by land use and state, 2020 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Urban | Rural | Unknown | Total | |||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | |
Alabama | 415 | 44 | 518 | 55 | 1 | <1 | 934 |
Alaska | 26 | 41 | 38 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
Arizona | 652 | 62 | 343 | 33 | 59 | 6 | 1,054 |
Arkansas | 193 | 30 | 445 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 638 |
California | 2,666 | 69 | 1,175 | 31 | 6 | <1 | 3,847 |
Colorado | 385 | 62 | 236 | 38 | 1 | <1 | 622 |
Connecticut | 248 | 84 | 46 | 16 | 1 | <1 | 295 |
Delaware | 69 | 59 | 47 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 116 |
District of Columbia | 36 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
Florida | 2,265 | 68 | 741 | 22 | 325 | 10 | 3,331 |
Georgia | 1,014 | 61 | 647 | 39 | 3 | <1 | 1,664 |
Hawaii | 76 | 89 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 85 |
Idaho | 47 | 22 | 167 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 214 |
Illinois | 812 | 68 | 355 | 30 | 27 | 2 | 1,194 |
Indiana | 373 | 42 | 524 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 897 |
Iowa | 98 | 29 | 239 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 337 |
Kansas | 164 | 38 | 262 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 426 |
Kentucky | 279 | 36 | 501 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 780 |
Louisiana | 443 | 54 | 383 | 46 | 2 | <1 | 828 |
Maine | 32 | 20 | 131 | 80 | 1 | 1 | 164 |
Maryland | 478 | 84 | 87 | 15 | 2 | <1 | 567 |
Massachusetts | 315 | 92 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 343 |
Michigan | 651 | 60 | 430 | 40 | 3 | <1 | 1,084 |
Minnesota | 153 | 39 | 240 | 61 | 1 | <1 | 394 |
Mississippi | 237 | 32 | 515 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 752 |
Missouri | 494 | 50 | 493 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 987 |
Montana | 22 | 10 | 190 | 89 | 1 | <1 | 213 |
Nebraska | 68 | 29 | 165 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 233 |
Nevada | 224 | 71 | 93 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 317 |
New Hampshire | 43 | 41 | 59 | 57 | 2 | 2 | 104 |
New Jersey | 518 | 89 | 54 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 584 |
New Mexico | 184 | 46 | 211 | 53 | 3 | 1 | 398 |
New York | 759 | 73 | 287 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1,046 |
North Carolina | 713 | 46 | 819 | 53 | 6 | <1 | 1,538 |
North Dakota | 24 | 24 | 76 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Ohio | 727 | 59 | 471 | 38 | 32 | 3 | 1,230 |
Oklahoma | 262 | 40 | 390 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 652 |
Oregon | 223 | 44 | 285 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 508 |
Pennsylvania | 626 | 55 | 498 | 44 | 5 | <1 | 1,129 |
Rhode Island | 55 | 82 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 67 |
South Carolina | 282 | 27 | 782 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 1,064 |
South Dakota | 32 | 23 | 109 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 141 |
Tennessee | 704 | 58 | 513 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 1,217 |
Texas | 2,368 | 61 | 1,503 | 39 | 3 | <1 | 3,874 |
Utah | 165 | 60 | 111 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 276 |
Vermont | 13 | 21 | 49 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 62 |
Virginia | 360 | 42 | 490 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 850 |
Washington | 315 | 56 | 243 | 43 | 2 | <1 | 560 |
West Virginia | 89 | 33 | 171 | 64 | 7 | 3 | 267 |
Wisconsin | 228 | 37 | 382 | 62 | 4 | 1 | 614 |
Wyoming | 25 | 20 | 102 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 127 |
U.S. total | 21,650 | 56 | 16,665 | 43 | 509 | 1 | 38,824 |