Traffic Safety Facts 2021: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Crash Data

Traffic Safety Facts 2021

A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data

2021 National Statistics

Police-Reported Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes

Fatal ........................................................................................................... 39,508

Injury ......................................................................................................... 1,727,608

Property-Damage-Only ............................................................................. 4,335,820

Total .......................................................................................................... 6,102,936

Traffic Crash Victims Killed Injured

Occupants ................................................................................................ 28,358 2,297,890

Drivers .................................................................................................. 21,786 1,689,595

Passengers ............................................................................................ 6,527 607,024

Unknown .............................................................................................. 45 1,272

Motorcyclists ............................................................................................ 5,932 82,686

Nonoccupants .......................................................................................... 8,649 117,081

Pedestrians ............................................................................................ 7,388 60,577

Pedalcyclists ......................................................................................... 966 41,615

Other/Unknown .................................................................................... 295 14,889

Total .......................................................................................................... 42,939 2,497,657

Other National Statistics

Vehicle Miles Traveled ............................................................................. 3,132,411,000,000

Population ................................................................................................. 331,893,745

Registered Vehicles ................................................................................... 302,722,453

Licensed Drivers ....................................................................................... 232,781,797

Economic Cost of Traffic Crashes (2019)

(Estimate for Reported and Unreported Crashes) ..................................... $340 billion

National Rates: Fatalities

Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled ................................... 1.37

Fatalities per 100,000 Population .............................................................. 12.94

Fatalities per 100,000 Registered Vehicles ............................................... 14.18

Fatalities per 100,000 Licensed Drivers.................................................... 18.45

National Rates: People Injured

People Injured per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled .......................... 80

People Injured per 100,000 Population ..................................................... 753

People Injured per 100,000 Registered Vehicles ...................................... 825

People Injured per 100,000 Licensed Drivers ........................................... 1,073

Sources: Crashes, Fatalities, Injuries, and Costs – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Population – Census Bureau

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

DOT HS 813 527

December 2023

Traffic Safety Facts 2021

A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

National Center for Statistics and Analysis

Washington, DC 20590

Suggested APA Format Citation:

National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2023, December). Traffic safety facts 2021: A compilation

of motor vehicle traffic crash data (Report No. DOT HS 813 527). National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration.

For More Information:

Motor vehicle traffic crash data are available from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis

(NCSA), NSA-230. NCSA can be contacted at [email protected] or 800-934-8517. NCSA

programs can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/data. Additional data tools, such as the State Traffic Safety

Information (STSI), Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST), fact sheet data visualizations,

and more can be found at https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/. To report a vehicle safety-related problem or to inquire

about safety information, contact the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or www.nhtsa.gov/report-

a-safety-problem.

Fact sheets available from NCSA are Alcohol-Impaired Driving, Bicyclists and Other Cyclists,

Children, Large Trucks, Motorcycles, Occupant Protection in Passenger Vehicles, Older Population,

Passenger Vehicles, Pedestrians, Rural/Urban Comparison of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities, School-

Transportation-Related Crashes, Speeding, State Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Estimates, State Traffic

Data, Summary of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes, and Young Drivers. The fact sheets and annual

Traffic Safety Facts reports can be found at https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/.

i

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................1

FARS Operations .........................................................................................................................................2

GES Operations ...........................................................................................................................................3

CRSS Operations .........................................................................................................................................4

About This Report........................................................................................................................................5

Data Availability ..........................................................................................................................................8

1. Trends ....................................................................................................................................................10

2. Crashes ...................................................................................................................................................60

3. Vehicles..................................................................................................................................................72

4. People .....................................................................................................................................................99

5. States ....................................................................................................................................................151

Appendix A: FARS Data Elements .........................................................................................................198

Crash Level ..........................................................................................................................................198

Vehicle Level ......................................................................................................................................198

Driver Level ........................................................................................................................................199

Person (Motor Vehicle Occupant) Level .............................................................................................199

Person (Not Motor Vehicle Occupant) Level ......................................................................................199

Appendix B: CRSS Data Elements ..........................................................................................................200

Crash Level ..........................................................................................................................................200

Vehicle Level ......................................................................................................................................200

Driver Level ........................................................................................................................................201

Person (Motor Vehicle Occupant) Level .............................................................................................201

Person (Not Motor Vehicle Occupant) Level ......................................................................................201

Appendix C: CRSS Technical Notes .......................................................................................................202

Standard Errors ....................................................................................................................................202

Unknowns ............................................................................................................................................203

Index ........................................................................................................................................................204

ii

Tables

Trends: General

Table 1. Crashes, by Crash Severity, 1988-2021 ................................................................................... 12

Table 2. People Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Population, Licensed Drivers,

Registered Vehicles, and VMT, 1966-2021 ................................................................................. 13

Table 3. Vehicles Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per VMT and per Registered Vehicle,

by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity, 1975-2021 ......................................................................... 16

Table 4. People Killed and Injured, by Person Type and Vehicle Type, 1975-2021 ............................ 19

Table 5. Drivers Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per Licensed Driver, by Sex and

Crash Severity, 1975-2021............................................................................................................ 21

Trends: Occupants

Table 6. Motor Vehicle Occupant and Motorcyclist Fatality and Injury Rates per Population,

by Age Group, 1975-2021 ............................................................................................................ 25

Table 7. Passenger Car Occupants Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Registered

Vehicle and VMT, 1975-2021 ...................................................................................................... 27

Table 8. Light-Truck Occupants Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Registered

Vehicle and VMT, 1975-2021 ...................................................................................................... 29

Table 9. Large-Truck Occupants Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Registered

Vehicle and VMT, 1975-2021 ...................................................................................................... 31

Table 10. Motorcyclists Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Registered Vehicle

and VMT, 1975-2021.................................................................................................................... 33

Trends: Large-Truck-Related

Table 11. People Killed and Injured in Crashes Involving Large Trucks, by Person Type and

Crash Type, 1975-2021 ................................................................................................................. 35

Trends: Nonoccupants

Table 12. Nonoccupant Fatality and Injury Rates per Population, by Age Group, 1975-2021 ............. 37

Trends: Alcohol

Table 13. People Killed, by Highest Driver BAC in the Crash, 1982-2021 .......................................... 39

Table 14. People Killed and Percentage Alcohol-Impaired Driving During Holiday Periods,

1982-2021 ..................................................................................................................................... 41

Table 15. Drivers in Fatal Crashes, by Their BACs and Time of Day, 1982-2021 ............................... 43

Table 16. Drivers in Fatal Crashes, by Their BACs and Sex, 1982-2021 ............................................. 44

Table 17. Drivers in Fatal Crashes, by Their BACs and Vehicle Type, 1982-2021 ............................. 45

Table 18. Drivers in Fatal Crashes, by Their BACs and Age Group, 1982-2021 ................................. 47

Table 19. Drivers in Fatal Crashes, by Their BACs and Survival Status, 1982-2021 ........................... 51

Table 20. Pedestrians Killed, 15 and Older, by Their BACs, 1982-2021 .............................................. 52

Trends: Restraints

Table 21. Drivers of Passenger Cars and Light Trucks in Crashes, by Crash Severity and Restraint

Use, 1975-2021 ............................................................................................................................. 53

Table 22. Occupants of Passenger Cars and Light Trucks Killed and Injured, by Restraint Use,

1975-2021 ..................................................................................................................................... 56

Tables

iii

Trends: Rollover

Table 23. Passenger Car and Light-Truck Occupants Killed, by Vehicle Type and Rollover

Occurrence, 1982-2021 ................................................................................................................. 58

Crashes: Time

Table 24. Crashes and Crash Rates, by Month and Crash Severity ....................................................... 61

Table 25. Crashes, by Time of Day, Day of Week, and Crash Severity ................................................ 62

Table 26. Crashes, by Weather Condition, Light Condition, and Crash Severity ................................. 64

Table 27. Fatal Crashes, by Emergency Medical Services Response Times Within

Designated Minutes and Land Use ............................................................................................... 65

Crashes: Location

Table 28. Crashes, by Crash Type, Relation to Roadway, and Crash Severity ..................................... 66

Crashes: Circumstances

Table 29. Crashes, by First Harmful Event, Manner of Collision, and Crash Severity ......................... 67

Table 30. Two-Vehicle Crashes, by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity ................................................. 68

Crashes: Alcohol

Table 31. Fatal Crashes and Percentage Alcohol-Impaired Driving, by Time of Day

and Crash Type ............................................................................................................................. 69

Vehicles: All Vehicles

Table 32. Vehicles Involved in Crashes, by Relation to Junction, Traffic Control Device,

and Crash Severity ........................................................................................................................ 73

Table 33. Vehicles Involved in Crashes, by Speed Limit, Crash Type, and Crash Severity ................. 74

Table 34. Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Speed Limit and Land Use...................................... 75

Table 35. Vehicles Involved in Crashes, by Number of Lanes, Trafficway Flow,

and Crash Severity ........................................................................................................................ 76

Table 36. Vehicles Involved in Crashes, by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity .................................... 77

Table 37. Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Vehicle Body Class ................................................. 78

Table 38. Vehicles Involved in Crashes, by Vehicle Type, Rollover Occurrence,

and Crash Severity ........................................................................................................................ 79

Table 39. Vehicles Involved in Crashes, by Vehicle Type, Fire Occurrence, and Crash Severity ....... 81

Table 40. Vehicles Involved in Single-Vehicle and Two-Vehicle Crashes, by

Vehicle Maneuver and Crash Severity ......................................................................................... 82

Table 41. Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Roadway Function Class, Crash Type, and

Hazardous Cargo ........................................................................................................................... 83

Vehicles: Passenger Cars

Table 42. Passenger Cars Involved in Crashes, by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity............... 86

Table 43. Passenger Cars Involved in Crashes, by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity,

and Crash Type ............................................................................................................................. 87

Vehicles: Light Trucks

Table 44. Light Trucks Involved in Crashes, by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity .................. 88

Table 45. Light Trucks Involved in Crashes, by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity,

and Crash Type ............................................................................................................................. 89

Vehicles: Large Trucks

Table 46. Large Trucks Involved in Crashes, by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity ................. 90

Tables

iv

Table 47. Large Trucks Involved in Crashes, by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity,

and Crash Type ............................................................................................................................. 91

Table 48. Large Trucks Involved in Crashes, by Truck Type, Rollover Occurrence,

and Crash Severity ........................................................................................................................ 92

Table 49. Truck Tractors With Trailers Involved in Crashes, by Number of Trailers, Jackknife

Occurrence, and Crash Severity .................................................................................................... 93

Vehicles: Motorcycles

Table 50. Motorcycles Involved in Crashes, by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity ................... 94

Table 51. Motorcycles Involved in Crashes, by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity,

and Crash Type ............................................................................................................................. 95

Vehicles: Buses

Table 52. Buses Involved in Crashes, by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity ............................. 96

Table 53. Buses Involved in Crashes, by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity, and Crash Type ..... 97

People: All Victims

Table 54. People Killed and Injured, by Person Type and Injury Severity ......................................... 100

Table 55. People Killed and Injured, by Age Group and Injury Severity ........................................... 100

Table 56. People Killed and Injured, by Sex and Injury Severity ....................................................... 100

Table 57. People Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per 100,000 Population,

by Age Group and Sex ................................................................................................................ 102

Table 58. People Killed and Injured in Crashes, by Weather Condition and Light Condition ........... 104

Table 59. People Killed in Crashes and Percentage Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Fatalities,

by Time of Day and Crash Type ................................................................................................. 104

Table 60. People Killed in Work Zones, by Functional System and Person Type .............................. 106

Table 61. People Killed in Crashes Involving Emergency Vehicles, by Person Type,

Crash Type, and Vehicle Type .................................................................................................... 106

People: Drivers

Table 62. Driver Involvement Rates per 100,000 Licensed Drivers, by Age Group, Sex,

and Crash Severity ...................................................................................................................... 109

Table 63. Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Previous Driving Record and

License Compliance .................................................................................................................... 111

Table 64. Related Factors for Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes ........................................................ 111

People: Occupants

Table 65. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured, by Vehicle Type, Person Type,

and Injury Severity ...................................................................................................................... 112

Table 66. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured in Crashes, by Speed Limit and Crash Type .......... 113

Table 67. Vehicle Occupants Killed in Crashes, by Speed Limit and Land Use ................................ 114

Table 68. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured, by Sex and Vehicle Type ...................................... 115

Table 69. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured, by Age Group and Vehicle Type .......................... 116

Table 70. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured, by Age Group, Person Type, and Sex ................... 117

Table 71. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured, by Vehicle Type and Most Harmful Event ........... 118

Table 72. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured, by Initial Point of Impact and Vehicle Type ......... 119

Table 73. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured, by Vehicle Type and Ejection ............................... 120

Table 74. Vehicle Occupants Killed and Injured in Two-Vehicle Crashes, by Vehicle

Types Involved............................................................................................................................ 121

Tables

v

Table 75. Vehicle Occupants Involved in Fatal Crashes and Occupant Fatalities, by Vehicle Body

Class ............................................................................................................................................ 122

People: Alcohol

Table 76. Passenger Car and Light-Truck Occupants Involved in Fatal Crashes and

Occupants Killed, by Vehicle Age and Vehicle Type ................................................................ 123

Table 77. People Killed and Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Fatalities, by Person Type ........................... 124

Table 78. Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Age Group and Their BACs ................................... 124

Table 79. Drivers Killed in Crashes, by Time of Day, Day of Week, Age Group,

Alcohol Impairment, and Crash Type ......................................................................................... 126

Table 80. Drivers Killed in Crashes, by Age Group and Their BACs ................................................ 126

Table 81. Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Vehicle Type and Their BACs................................ 128

Table 82. People Killed, by Age Group and Highest Driver BAC in the Crash ................................. 128

Table 83. Pedestrians Killed, by Pedestrian and Driver BAC ............................................................. 128

People: Restraints

Table 84. Drivers Involved in Crashes, by Vehicle Type, Restraint Use, and Crash Severity ............ 129

Table 85. Passenger Car and Light-Truck Occupants Killed and Injured, by Age Group

and Restraint Use ........................................................................................................................ 130

Table 86. Passenger Car and Light-Truck Occupant Survivors of Fatal Crashes, by Age Group

and Restraint Use ........................................................................................................................ 131

Table 87. Passenger Car Occupants Killed and Injured, by Seating Position and Restraint Use ........ 132

Table 88. Light-Truck Occupants Killed and Injured, by Seating Position and Restraint Use ........... 133

Table 89. Passenger Car and Light-Truck Occupants Killed and Injured, by Restraint Use

and Type of Restraint .................................................................................................................. 134

People: Rollover

Table 90. Passenger Car and Light-Truck Occupants Killed, by Crash Type, Vehicle Type, and

Rollover Occurrence ................................................................................................................... 135

People: Motorcyclists

Table 91. Motorcyclists Killed and Injured, by Time of Day and Day of Week................................. 136

Table 92. Motorcyclists Killed, by Person Type and Helmet Use....................................................... 138

Table 93. Motorcycle Riders Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Age Group and License Compliance .... 138

People: School-Bus-Related

Table 94. Pedestrians Killed in School-Bus-Related Crashes, by Age Group and Striking Vehicle .. 139

Table 95. People Killed and Injured in School-Bus-Related Crashes, by Person Type ...................... 139

People: Pedestrians

Table 96. Pedestrians Killed and Injured, by Age Group and Location .............................................. 140

Table 97. Pedestrians Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per 100,000

Population, by Age Group and Sex............................................................................................. 141

Table 98. Pedestrians Killed and Injured, by Time of Day and Day of Week .................................... 142

Table 99. Pedestrians Killed and Injured in Single-Vehicle Crashes, by Vehicle Type

and Initial Point of Impact .......................................................................................................... 144

Table 100. Pedestrians Killed, by Related Factors .............................................................................. 144

People: Pedalcyslists

Table 101. Pedalcyclists Killed and Injured, by Age Group and Location ......................................... 145

Tables

vi

Table 102. Pedalcyclists Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per 100,000

Population, by Age Group and Sex............................................................................................. 146

Table 103. Pedalcyclists Killed and Injured, by Time of Day and Day of Week ................................ 147

Table 104. Pedalcyclists Killed and Injured in Single-Vehicle Crashes, by Vehicle Type

and Initial Point of Impact .......................................................................................................... 148

Table 105. Pedalcyclists Killed, by Related Factors............................................................................ 149

States: Crashes and all Victims

Table 106. Traffic Fatalities, by State and Percentage Change, 2020-2021 ........................................ 152

Table 107. Fatal Crashes, by State and First Harmful Event ............................................................... 154

Table 108. Fatal Crashes, by State and Roadway Function Class ....................................................... 156

Table 109. People Killed, by State and Roadway Function Class ....................................................... 158

Table 110. People Killed, Population, Licensed Drivers, Registered Vehicles, VMT,

and Fatality Rates, by State ......................................................................................................... 160

Table 111. People Killed, by State and Person Type ........................................................................... 162

Table 112. People Killed, by State and Age Group ............................................................................. 164

States: Occupants

Table 113. Vehicle Occupants Killed, by State and Vehicle Type ...................................................... 166

Table 114. Passenger Car and Light-Truck Occupants Killed, by State and Restraint Use ................ 168

States: Rollover

Table 115. Passenger Car and Light-Truck Occupants Killed, by State, Vehicle Type,

and Rollover Occurrence ............................................................................................................ 170

States: Pedestrians

Table 116. Ranking of State Pedestrian Fatality Rates ........................................................................ 172

States: Alcohol

Table 117. People Killed, by State and Highest Driver BAC in the Crash ......................................... 174

Table 118. Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, by State and Their BACs ........................................... 176

Table 119. Drivers Killed in Crashes, by State and Their BACs ........................................................ 178

Table 120. Surviving Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, by State and Their BACs .......................... 180

States: Speeding

Table 121. Speeding-Related Traffic Fatalities, by State and Roadway Function Class .................... 182

States: Emergency Medical Services

Table 122. Rural Fatal Crashes, by State and Average Emergency Medical Services

Response Times .......................................................................................................................... 184

Table 123. Urban Fatal Crashes, by State and Average Emergency Medical Services

Response Times .......................................................................................................................... 186

States: City Rates

Table 124. People Killed, Population, and Fatality Rates in Cities With Populations of

150,000 or Greater ...................................................................................................................... 188

States: Fatalities and Fatality Rates

Table 125. Fatalities and Fatality Rates, by State, 1975-2021............................................................. 193

vii

Figures

Trends

Figure 1. Crashes, by Crash Severity, 1975-2021 ................................................................................. 11

Figure 2. Motor Vehicle Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT, 1966-2021 ......................... 15

Figure 3. Driver Involvement Rates per 100,000 Licensed Drivers, by Sex and Crash Severity,

1975-2021 ..................................................................................................................................... 24

Figure 4. Passenger Car Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT, 1975-2021 ......... 28

Figure 5. Light-Truck Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT, 1975-2021 ............ 30

Figure 6. Large-Truck Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT, 1975-2021............ 32

Figure 7. Motorcyclist Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT, 1975-2021 ............................ 34

Figure 8. Proportion of People Killed, by Highest Driver BAC in the Crash, 1982-2021 .................... 40

Figure 9. Proportion of Drivers in Fatal Crashes With BACs = .08+ g/dL, by Vehicle Type, 1982-2021

....................................................................................................................................................... 46

Figure 10. Proportion of Drivers in Fatal Crashes With BACs = .08+ g/dL, by Age Group, 1982-2021

....................................................................................................................................................... 50

Crashes

Figure 11. Average Fatal Crashes per Hour, by Time of Day, Weekdays, and Weekends ................... 63

Figure 12. Percentage of Fatal Crashes Involving Alcohol-Impaired Driving, by Time of Day and

Crash Type .................................................................................................................................... 70

Vehicles

Figure 13. Proportion of Vehicles Involved in Traffic Crashes ............................................................. 77

Figure 14. Percentage Rollover Occurrence, by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity .............................. 80

Figure 15. Percentage of Vehicles in Crashes, by Most Harmful Event and Vehicle Type .................. 84

Figure 16. Percentage of Vehicles in Crashes, by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Type, and Vehicle

Type .............................................................................................................................................. 85

People

Figure 17. Percentage of People Killed and Injured, by Age Group ................................................... 101

Figure 18. Fatality and Injury Rates per 100,000 Population, by Age Group and Sex ....................... 103

Figure 19. Percentage of People Killed in Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Crashes, by Time of Day and

Crash Type .................................................................................................................................. 105

Figure 20. Fatality and Injury Rates per 1,000 Crashes, by First Harmful Event and Manner of

Collision ...................................................................................................................................... 107

Figure 21. Fatality and Injury Rates per 1,000 Crashes, by Time of Day ........................................... 108

Figure 22. Driver Involvement Rates per 100,000 Licensed Drivers, by Age Group, Sex, and Crash

Severity ....................................................................................................................................... 110

Figure 23. Percentage of Vehicle Occupants Killed, by Speed Limit and Land Use .......................... 114

Figure 24. Percentage Alcohol Impairment (BAC = .08+ g/dL) for Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes,

by Age Group .............................................................................................................................. 125

Figure 25. Percentage of Drivers Killed Who Were Alcohol-Impaired (BAC = .08+ g/dL), by Age

Group, Crash Type, Time of Day, and Day of Week ................................................................. 127

Figure 26. Average Number of Motorcyclists Killed per Hour, by Time of Day and Day of Week .. 137

Figure 27. Average Number of Pedestrians Killed per Hour, by Time of Day and Day of Week ...... 143

States

Figure 28. Traffic Fatalities, by State and Percentage Change, 2020-2021 ........................................ 153

viii

Glossary

Alcohol Involvement

NHTSA defines a fatal crash as alcohol-related

or alcohol-involved if at least one driver or

nonoccupant (such as a pedestrian or

pedalcyclist) involved in the crash is determined

to have had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

of .01 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Thus,

any fatality that occurs in an alcohol-related

crash is considered an alcohol-related fatality.

NHTSA defines a nonfatal crash as alcohol-

related or alcohol-involved if police indicate on

the police crash report that there is evidence of

alcohol present. The code does not necessarily

mean that a driver or nonoccupant was tested for

alcohol.

The terms “alcohol-related” and “alcohol-

involved” do not indicate that a crash or fatality

was caused by the presence of alcohol.

Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Crashes

Crashes that involve at least one driver or

motorcycle rider (operator) with a BAC of .08

g/dL or higher. Thus, any crash involving a

driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08

g/dL or higher is considered an alcohol-

impaired-driving crash.

Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Fatalities

Fatalities in crashes that involve at least one

driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a BAC

of .08 g/dL or higher. Thus, any fatality

occurring in a crash involving a driver or

motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 g/dL or

higher is considered an alcohol-impaired-driving

fatality.

Blood Alcohol Concentration

BAC is measured as the weight of alcohol in a

volume of blood (g/dL). A positive BAC level

(.01 g/dL or higher) indicates that alcohol was

consumed by the person tested; a BAC level of

.08 g/dL or more indicates that the person was

alcohol-impaired.

Body Type

Detailed type of motor vehicle within a vehicle

type.

Bus

Any motor vehicle designed primarily to

transport large groups of nine or more people,

including the driver. Includes school buses, inter-

city buses, and transit buses.

Combination Truck

A truck tractor not pulling a trailer; a tractor

pulling at least one full- or semi-trailer; or a

single-unit truck pulling at least one trailer.

Crash

An event that produces injury and/or property

damage, involves a motor vehicle in-transport,

and occurs on a trafficway or while the vehicle is

still in motion after running off the trafficway.

Crash Severity

1. Fatal Crash. A police-reported crash

involving a motor vehicle in-transport on a

trafficway in which at least one person dies

within 30 days of the crash.

2. Injury Crash. A police-reported crash that

involves a motor vehicle in-transport on a

trafficway in which no one died but at least

one person was reported to have: (1) an

incapacitating injury; (2) a visible but not

incapacitating injury; (3) a possible, not

visible injury; or (4) an injury of unknown

severity.

3. Property-Damage-Only Crash. A police-

reported crash involving a motor vehicle in-

transport on a trafficway in which no one

involved in the crash suffered any injuries.

Crash Type

Single-vehicle or multiple-vehicle crash.

Day

From 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.

Glossary

ix

Driver

An occupant of a vehicle who is in physical

control of a motor vehicle in-transport, or for an

out-of-control vehicle, an occupant who was in

control until control was lost.

Ejection

Refers to an occupant being totally or partially

thrown from the vehicle because of an impact or

rollover.

First Harmful Event

The first event during a crash that caused injury

or property damage.

Fixed Object

Stationary structures or substantial vegetation

attached to the terrain.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

The GVWR is the maximum rated capacity of a

vehicle, including the weight of the base vehicle,

all added equipment, driver and passengers, and

all cargo loaded into or on the vehicle. Actual

weight may be less than or greater than GVWR.

Impact Point

The first impact point that produced personal

injury or property damage, regardless of First or

Most Harmful Event.

Injury Severity

The police-reported injury severity of the person

(occupant, pedestrian, or pedalcyclist).

1. Killed (Fatal)

2. Injured (Incapacitating injury, evident injury

but not incapacitating, complaint of injury, or

injured, severity unknown)

3. No injury

Jackknife

Jackknife can occur at any time during the crash

sequence. In this report, jackknifing is restricted

to a truck tractor pulling a trailing unit in which

the trailing unit and the pulling vehicle rotate

with respect to each other.

Junction

Area formed by the connection of two roadways,

including intersections, interchange areas, and

entrance/exit ramps.

Land Use

The crash location (urban or rural).

Large Trucks

Trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR, including

single-unit trucks and truck tractors.

Light Trucks

Trucks of 10,000 pounds GWVR or less,

including pickups, vans, truck-based station

wagons, and utility vehicles (SUVs).

Manner of Collision

A classification for crashes in which the First

Harmful Event was a collision between two

motor vehicles in-transport and is described as

one of the following:

Angle. Collisions that are not head-on, rear-

end, rear-to-rear, or sideswipe.

Head-on. A collision where the front of one

vehicle collides with the front of another

vehicle while the two are traveling in opposite

directions.

Rear-end. A collision in which one vehicle

collides with the rear of another vehicle.

Sideswipe. A collision in which the sides of

both vehicles sustain minimal engagements.

Most Harmful Event

The event during a crash for a particular vehicle

that is judged to have produced the greatest

personal injury or property damage.

Motor Vehicle in Transport

A motor vehicle in motion on the trafficway or

any other motor vehicle on the roadway,

including stalled, disabled, or abandoned

vehicles.

Glossary

x

Motorcycle

A 2- or 3-wheeled motor vehicle designed to

transport one or two people, including motor-

scooters, minibikes, and mopeds.

Motorcycle Rider

The operator (driver) of a motorcycle.

Motorcyclist

Any person riding on a motorcycle, including the

motorcycle rider (operator) and any passenger (a

person riding on, but not in control of, the

motorcycle).

Night

From 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.

Noncollision

A class of crash in which the First Harmful

Event does not involve a collision with a fixed

object, nonfixed object, or a motor vehicle. This

includes overturn, fire/explosion, fall from a

vehicle, and injuries in a vehicle.

Nonoccupant

Any person who is not an occupant of a motor

vehicle in transport and includes the following.

1. Pedestrians

2. Pedalcyclists

3. Occupants of parked motor vehicles

4. Others such as joggers, skateboard riders,

people riding on animals, and people riding

in animal-drawn conveyances

Nonoccupant Location

The location of nonoccupants at time of impact.

Intersection locations are coded only if

nonoccupants were struck in the area formed by

a junction of two or more trafficways. Non-

intersection location may include nonoccupants

struck on a junction of a driveway/alley access

and a named trafficway. Nonoccupants who are

occupants of motor vehicles not in transport are

coded with respect to the location of the vehicle.

Objects Not Fixed

Objects that are movable or moving but are not

motor vehicles. Includes pedestrians, pedal-

cyclists, animals, or trains (e.g., spilled cargo in

roadway).

Occupant

Any person who is in or on a motor vehicle in-

transport. Includes the driver, passengers, and

any person riding on the exterior of a motor

vehicle.

Other Vehicle

Consists of the following types of vehicles.

1. Large limousine (more than four side doors

or stretched chassis)

2. 3-wheel automobile or automobile derivative

3. Van-based motorhome

4. Light-truck-based motorhome (chassis

mounted)

5. Large-truck-based motorhome

6. ATV (all-terrain vehicle, including

dune/swamp buggy) and ATC (all-terrain

cycle)

7. Snowmobile

8. Farm equipment other than trucks

9. Construction equipment other than trucks

(includes graders)

10. Other type vehicle (includes go-cart, forklift,

city streetsweeper).

Passenger

Any occupant of a motor vehicle who is not a

driver.

Passenger Car

Motor vehicles used primarily for carrying

passengers, including convertibles, sedans, and

station wagons.

Pedalcyclist

A person on a vehicle powered solely by pedals.

Pedestrian

Any person not in or upon a motor vehicle or

other vehicle.

Glossary

xi

Restraint Use

The occupant’s use of available vehicle

restraints, including lap belt, shoulder belt, or

automatic belt.

Roadway

That part of a trafficway designed, improved,

and ordinarily used for motor vehicle travel.

Roadway Function Class

The classification describing the character of

service the street or highway. Includes the

following:

Interstates. Limited access divided facilities of

at least four lanes designated by the FHWA as

part of the Interstate System.

Other Freeways and Expressways. All urban

principal arterials with limited control of access

not on the Interstate System.

Other Principal Arterials. Major streets or

highways, many with multi-lane or freeway

design, serving high-volume traffic corridor

movements that connect major generators of

travel.

Minor Arterials. Streets and highways linking

cities and larger towns in rural areas in

distributing trips to small geographic areas in

urban areas (not penetrating identifiable

neighborhoods).

Collectors. In rural areas, routes serving intra-

county, rather than statewide travel. In urban

areas streets providing direct access to

neighborhoods as well as direct access to

arterials.

Local Streets and Roads. Streets whose

primary purpose is feeding higher order

systems, providing direct access with little or

no through traffic.

Rollover

Any vehicle rotation of 90 degrees or more about

any true longitudinal or lateral axis. Includes

rollovers occurring as a First Harmful Event or

subsequent event.

Seating Position

The location of the occupants in the vehicle.

More than one can be assigned the same seat

position; however, this is allowed only when a

person is sitting on someone’s lap.

School-Bus-Related Crash

Any crash in which a vehicle, regardless of body

design, used as a school bus is directly or

indirectly involved, such as a crash involving

school children alighting from a vehicle.

Single-Unit Truck

A medium or heavy truck in which the engine,

cab, drive train, and cargo area are all on one

chassis.

Trafficway

Any road, street, or highway open to the public

as a matter of right or custom for moving people

or property from one place to another.

Vehicle

See Motor Vehicle in Transport.

Vehicle Type

A series of motor vehicle body types that have

been grouped together because of their design

similarities. The principal vehicle types used in

this report are passenger car, light truck, large

truck, motorcycle, bus, and other vehicle. See the

definition of each of the vehicle types in this

glossary.

vPIC

The NHTSA Product Information Catalog and

Vehicle Listing (vPIC) is a consolidated platform

that presents data collected within the

manufacturer reported data from 49 CFR Parts

512 – 595 for use in a variety of modern tools.

NHTSA’s vPIC platform is intended to serve as a

centralized source for basic Vehicle Identification

Number (VIN) decoding, Manufacturer

Information Database (MID), Manufacturer

Equipment Plant Identification and associated

data.

Glossary

xii

Weekday

From 6 a.m. Monday to 5:59 p.m. Friday.

Weekend

From 6 p.m. Friday to 5:59 a.m. Monday.

1

Introduction

In this annual report, Traffic Safety Facts 2021: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data, the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration presents descriptive statistics about traffic crashes of

all severities, from those that result in property damage to those that result in the loss of human life.

Information from three of NHTSA’s primary data systems has been combined to create a single source

for motor vehicle traffic crash statistics. The first data system, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System

(FARS), is probably the better known of the three sources. Established in 1975, FARS contains data on

the most severe traffic crashes, those in which someone was killed. The second source is the National

Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System (NASS GES), which began operation in 1988

and ended in 2015. NASS GES contains data from a nationally representative sample of police-reported

crashes of all severities, including those that resulted in death, injury, or property damage. The third

source is the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS), which replaced NASS GES in 2016. CRSS is the

redesigned nationally representative sample of police-reported traffic crashes.

FARS, GES, and CRSS were designed and developed by NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and

Analysis (NCSA) to provide an overall measure of highway safety, to help identify traffic safety

problems, to suggest solutions, and to help provide an objective basis on which to evaluate the

effectiveness of motor vehicle safety standards and highway safety initiatives. Data from these systems

is used to answer requests for information from the international and national highway traffic safety

communities, including State and local governments, Congress, Federal agencies, research

organizations, industry, the media, and the public.

2

FARS Operations

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) became operational in 1975 and contains data on a

census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

To be included in FARS, a traffic crash must involve a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway

customarily open to the public and must result in the death of an occupant of a vehicle or a nonoccupant

within 30 days of the crash.

NHTSA has a cooperative agreement with an agency in each State’s government to provide information

on all qualifying fatal traffic crashes in the State. These agreements are managed by the NCSA State

Data System, Office of Data Acquisition. Trained State employees, called FARS analysts, are

responsible for gathering, translating, and transmitting their State’s data to NCSA’s standard format. The

number of analysts varies by State, depending on the number of fatal crashes and the ease of obtaining

data.

FARS data are obtained solely from the States’ existing documents.

Police Crash Reports (PCRs)

State Vehicle Registration Files

State Driver Licensing Files

State Highway Department Data

Vital Statistics

Death Certificates

Coroner/Medical Examiner Reports

Emergency Medical Service Reports

Other State Records

From these documents FARS analysts code more than 140 FARS data elements. The specific data

elements may be modified slightly each year to conform to changing user needs, vehicle characteristics,

and highway safety emphasis areas. The data collected in FARS does not include any personal

identifying information such as names, addresses, or social security numbers. Thus, any data kept in

FARS files and made available to the public fully conforms to the Privacy Act.

Each FARS analyst enters data into a local microcomputer data file, and daily updates are sent to

NHTSA’s central computer database. Data are automatically checked when entered for acceptable range

values and for consistency, enabling the analyst to make corrections immediately. Several programs

continually monitor and improve the completeness and accuracy of the data. The 2021 FARS data file

used for the statistics in this report was created in September 2022; however, the 2021 FARS file

officially closed in early 2023. This additional time provides the opportunity for submission of

important variable data requiring outside sources, which may lead to changes in the final counts. The

updated final counts for 2020 are reflected in this report. The updated final counts for 2021 will be

reflected in the 2022 annual report.

3

GES Operations

Data from the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) General Estimates System (GES) was

obtained from a nationally representative probability sample selected from all police-reported crashes.

The NASS GES began operation in 1988 and ended in 2015. For a crash to be eligible for the GES

sample, a PCR must be completed for the crash, and the crash must involve at least one motor vehicle

traveling on a trafficway and must result in property damage, injury, or death. Although various sources

suggest that about half the motor vehicle crashes in the country are not reported to police, most of these

unreported crashes involve only minor property damage and no significant personal injury. By

restricting attention to police-reported crashes, the GES concentrated on those crashes of greatest

concern to the highway safety community and the public.

GES data collectors made weekly visits to 410 police jurisdictions in 60 sites across the United States,

where they randomly sampled about 55,000 PCRs per year. The collectors obtained copies of the PCRs

and sent them to the NASS quality control centers for coding. No other data was collected beyond the

selected PCRs—no driver license, vehicle registration, or medical information was obtained.

Trained data entry personnel interpreted and coded data directly from the PCRs into an electronic data

file. Approximately 90 data elements were coded into a common format. Some elements were modified

every other year to meet the changing needs of the highway safety community. To protect individual

privacy, no personal information (names, addresses, specific crash locations) was coded. During data

coding, the data was checked electronically for validity and consistency. After the data file was created,

further quality checks were performed on the data through computer processing and by the data coding

supervisors.

4

CRSS Operations

NHTSA developed and implemented the NASS in the 1970s to make estimates of the motor vehicle

crash experience in the United States. In 1988 NHTSA split the NASS into two surveys, the GES and

the Crashworthiness Data System (CDS). Since then, the same data collection sites have been used for

GES data collection. Given the shifts in population and the vehicle fleet, and the changing analytic needs

of the safety community, Congress authorized NHTSA to modernize its crash data collection system.

NCSA redesigned the nationally representative sample of police-reported traffic crashes in the United

States. The new system, the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS), replaced NASS GES in 2016.

The CRSS was designed independent of other NHTSA surveys. The target population for the CRSS is

the same as that for the NASS GES: all police-reported motor vehicle crashes on trafficways. The CRSS

obtains its data from a nationally representative probability sample selected from the more than 7

million police-reported crashes that occur annually. For a crash to be eligible for the CRSS sample, a

crash report must be completed by the police; it must involve at least one motor vehicle traveling on a

trafficway; and the crash must result in property damage, injury, or death.

These crash reports are chosen from 60 selected sites across the United States that reflect the geography,

population, miles driven, and crashes in the United States. CRSS data collectors review crash reports

from hundreds of law enforcement agencies within the sites, systematically sampling tens of thousands

of PCRs each year. The collectors obtain copies of the selected PCRs and send them to a central location

for coding. No other data are collected beyond that in the selected crash reports.

Trained personnel interpret and code data directly from the PCRs into an electronic data file.

Approximately 120 data elements are coded into a common format. After coding, quality checks are

performed on the data to ensure validity and consistency. When these are completed CRSS data files and

coding documentation become publicly available.

5

About This Report

Fatal traffic crash data from FARS and nonfatal crash data from GES and CRSS are presented in this

report in five chapters. Chapter 1, “Trends,” presents data from all years of FARS (1975 to 2021), GES

(1988 to 2015), and CRSS (2016 to 2021). The remaining chapters present data only from 2021. Chapter

2, “Crashes,” describes general characteristics of crashes, such as when and how often they occurred,

where they occurred, and what happened during the crashes. Chapter 3, “Vehicles,” concentrates on the

types of vehicles involved in crashes and the damage to the vehicles. Chapter 4, “People,” is the largest

chapter of this report, with statistics about drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and pedalcyclists. The last

chapter, “States,” contains information about crashes for each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto

Rico. Terms used throughout the report are defined in the Glossary.

Statistics describing fatal crashes or fatalities have been derived from FARS. Statistics describing injury

or property-damage-only crashes have been derived from GES (or CRSS) and statistics describing

nonfatal injuries have been derived from both FARS and GES (or CRSS). The reader should be aware

that FARS numbers are actual counts of fatalities or fatal crashes, whereas GES and CRSS numbers are

estimates of counts of crashes and people injured and are subject to sampling and non-sampling errors.

(See Appendix C for more information on these errors.) The 2016 and later year estimates from

CRSS are not comparable to 2015 and earlier year estimates from NASS GES because of different

sampling designs. For more information on CRSS, refer to Crash Report Sampling System: Sample

Design and Weighting or Crash Report Sampling System: Design Overview, Analytic Guidance, and

FAQs.

1 2

The reader may also notice that many tables have rows or footnotes for “unknowns” for FARS data, but

not for GES or CRSS data. The reason for this difference is that almost all the GES or CRSS unknown

data have been assigned values through complex statistical procedures. FARS unknown data, on the

other hand, are not assigned values, with the exception of BAC test results. When the alcohol test results

are unknown, BAC values in g/dL have been assigned to drivers and nonoccupants involved in fatal

crashes, using a method of multiple imputation revised in 2001. More information on the multiple

imputation method, including detailed tabulations of alcohol involvement in various categories (age,

sex, time of day, etc.), is available in a NHTSA technical report, Multiple Imputation of Missing Blood

Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Values in FARS.

3

Changes From the Traffic Safety Facts 2020 Report

Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing (vPIC) Vehicle Classification

Historically, vehicle type classifications (e.g., passenger cars, light trucks, large trucks, motorcycles,

buses) from FARS, NASS GES, and CRSS used for analysis and data reporting were based on analyst-

coded vehicle body type. NHTSA did not have manufacturer authoritative data to assist in vehicle body

1

Zhang, F., Noh, E. Y., Subramanian, R., & Chen, C.-L. (2019, May). Crash Report Sampling System: Sample design and

weighting (Report No. DOT HS 812 706). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812706

2

Zhang, F., Subramanian, R., Chen, C.-L., & Noh, E. Y. (2019, April). Crash Report Sampling System: Design overview,

analytic guidance, and FAQs (Report No. DOT HS 812 688). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812688

3

Rubin, D. B., Schafer, J. L., & Subramanian, R. (1998, October). Multiple imputation of missing blood alcohol

concentration (BAC) values in FARS (Report No. DOT HS 808 816). National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/808816

About This Report

6

type coding. NCSA has developed a vPIC dataset that is being used to decode VINs (Vehicle

Identification Numbers) and extract vehicle information. Details of vehicles (make, model, body class,

etc.) involved in crashes are obtained from vPIC via VIN-linkage. The VIN-derived information from

vPIC uses the manufacturer’s classification of body class, which allows for more accurate vehicle type

analysis.

The vPIC-based analysis data are available beginning with 2020 FARS and CRSS data files. Starting

with the release of 2021 FARS and CRSS data, all vehicle-related analysis for 2020 and later years will

be based on vPIC vehicle classification. As a result, the 2020 and later-year vehicle type classifications

are not comparable to 2019 and earlier-year vehicle type classifications. This change affects any analysis

with a vehicle component to it. More information on vPIC can be found at https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/.

Age Group Changes

The following changes to age groups were made:

• From “10-15” to “10-14”;

• From “16-20” to “15-20”;

• From “<16” to “<15”;

• From “14 and Older” to “15 and Older”;

• From “>15” to “15-18”; and

• Removed the age restriction from Table 5.

Update to Table 37

The previous Table 37 titled “Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Body Type” has been replaced

with “Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Vehicle Body Class.”

Update to Table 75

The previous Table 75 titled “Occupants Involved in Fatal Crashes and Occupant Fatalities, by Vehicle

Body Type” has been replaced with “Vehicle Occupants Involved in Fatal Crashes and Occupant

Fatalities, by Vehicle Body Class.”

Registered Vehicles and VMT by Vehicle Type

Vehicle registration data for passenger vehicles (passenger cars and light trucks) was obtained from R.

L. Polk’s National Vehicle Population Profile (NVPP), which is a compilation of all passenger vehicles

that have been registered in compliance with State requirements (Polk data from S&P Global Mobility,

VMT were revised by NHTSA, using a combination of Polk and FHWA exposure data.

Polk enhanced the data quality of its NVPP, resulting in a complete rewrite of the data due to (1)

enhanced business rules for vehicles on the road, (2) more consistent reporting/processing across States,

and (3) upgraded basis for vehicle coding. A comparison of Polk’s “old” NVPP and “new” NVPP for

2011 shows that the enhancements resulted in an increase of more than 3 percent in NHTSA’s passenger

vehicle registration counts, consisting of a 5.6-percent decrease in the 2011 passenger car count and a

14.6-percent increase in the 2011 light-truck count from the old NVPP to the new NVPP, as shown in

About This Report

7

the table below. Consequently, the data in this report for vehicle registrations and VMT from 2011 to

2021 is not strictly comparable with the data for all prior years, which was based on Polk’s old NVPP.

Starting with 2020 data, passenger car and light-truck registrations were revised by NHTSA’s NCSA to

align with vPIC, which is manufacturer-based data. Prior year data were revised to align with NHTSA’s

NCSA body type, which is analyst-based data. Several vehicles previously classified as passenger cars

are now classified as light trucks, with the vast majority as SUVs. Thus, 2020 and later year passenger

car and light-truck registration counts are not comparable to prior year data.

Registered Vehicles: NCSA Revised Using Polk and FHWA Data

Year

Passenger Cars

(Polk)

Light Trucks

(Polk)

Motorcycles

(FHWA)

Buses

(FHWA)

Large Trucks

(FHWA)

NCSA Revised

Total

2009 (Old NVPP) 137,203,972 102,008,600 7,929,724 841,993 10,973,214 258,957,503

2010 (Old NVPP) 135,310,480 102,376,147 8,009,503 846,051 10,770,054 257,312,235

2011 (Old NVPP)

134,543,655

103,594,529

8,437,502

666,064

10,270,693

257,512,443

2011 (New NVPP) 126,966,714 118,702,389 8,437,502 666,064 10,270,693 265,043,362

2012 (New NVPP) 127,077,676 118,690,690 8,454,939 764,509 10,659,380 265,647,194

2013 (New NVPP)

128,936,225

120,491,485

8,404,687

864,549

10,597,356

269,294,302

2014 (New NVPP)

131,138,925

123,470,278

8,417,718

872,027

10,905,956

274,804,904

2015 (New NVPP) 133,218,366 127,401,053 8,600,936 888,907 11,203,184 281,312,446

2016 (New NVPP) 134,827,696 132,052,102 8,679,380 976,161 11,498,561 288,033,900

2017 (New NVPP) 132,864,363 135,594,973 8,664,108 983,231 12,229,216 290,335,891

2018 (New NVPP)

132,837,515

141,312,896

8,659,741

992,152

13,233,910

297,036,214

2019 (New NVPP)

129,838,156

146,751,968

8,596,314

995,033

13,085,643

299,267,114

2020 (New NVPP) 110,612,958 164,230,764 8,347,435 1,010,304 12,899,371 297,100,832

2021 (New NVPP) 107,934,093 170,108,546 9,881,414 939,219 13,859,181 302,722,453

VMT: Polk and FHWA

Year

Passenger Cars

(Revised FHWA

Using Polk)

Light Trucks

(Revised FHWA

Using Polk)

Motorcycles

(FHWA)

Buses

(FHWA)

Large Trucks

(FHWA)

Total

(FHWA)

2009 (Old NVPP)

1,510,339

1,122,909

20,822

14,387

288,306

2,956,764

2010 (Old NVPP)

1,507,716

1,140,740

18,513

13,770

286,527

2,967,266

2011 (Old NVPP) 1,497,460 1,152,998 18,542 13,807 267,594 2,950,402

2011 (New NVPP)

1,369,810

1,280,648

18,542

13,807

267,594

2,945,194

2012 (New NVPP)

1,377,486

1,286,574

21,385

14,781

269,207

2,963,497

2013 (New NVPP) 1,384,194 1,293,536 20,366 15,167 275,017 2,982,941

2014 (New NVPP) 1,396,098 1,314,458 19,970 15,999 279,132 3,020,377

2015 (New NVPP) 1,420,869 1,358,824 19,606 16,230 279,844 3,089,841

2016 (New NVPP)

1,439,678

1,410,040

20,445

16,350

287,895

3,173,815

2017 (New NVPP)

1,424,056

1,453,322

20,149

17,227

297,593

3,210,248

2018 (New NVPP) 1,403,760 1,493,323 20,076 18,303 304,864 3,240,327

2019 (New NVPP) 1,372,622 1,551,431 19,688 17,980 300,050 3,261,772

2020 (New NVPP) 1,035,519 1,537,469 17,947 15,037 297,649 2,903,622

2021 (New NVPP) 1,074,905 1,694,094 19,642 16,744 327,026 3,132,411

Note: NCSA revises FHWA’s passenger car and light-truck VMT using Polk’s registration counts. Starting with 2020 data, passenger car

and light-truck revisions were based on vPIC vehicle classifications. As a result, the 2020 and later year passenger car and light-truck

counts are not comparable to 2019 and earlier years.

8

Data Availability

While this report presents a wide spectrum of information in more than 100 tables and figures, it

contains only a fraction of the data available from FARS, NASS GES, and CRSS. Additional data from

FARS (1975 to 2021), NASS GES (1988 to 2015), and CRSS (2016 to 2021) are available in several

ways, including the following.

• Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report Tables can be obtained from the online portal at

https://cdan.dot.gov/tsftables/tsfar.htm, which contains the most current data available, unlike the

Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report publication. The 2020 and earlier year FARS data are final.

Although the 2021 data file is a full year's worth of data, it is subject to change when it is finalized.

Tables in this report can be rendered using the latest FARS and NASS GES (or CRSS) data

available.

• FARS data can also be accessed at www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx. This website provides

instant access to the 1994 to 2021 FARS data via reports, which is an inventory of the fatality

statistical reports found in this publication. These are national reports for current and past years that

may be customized by selection of State, and for State reports, county tabulation may be selected.

• Data visualization tools for Traffic Safety fact sheets can be found at https://cdan.dot.gov/Data-

Visualization/DataVisualization.htm.

• FARS and GES/CRSS data can be queried using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool

(FIRST) at https://cdan.dot.gov/query.

• FARS, NASS GES, and CRSS data can be obtained by downloading published files from

www.nhtsa.gov/file-downloads?p=nhtsa/downloads/FARS/ (FARS), www.nhtsa.gov/file-

downloads?p=nhtsa/downloads/GES/ (NASS GES), or

www.nhtsa.gov/file-downloads?p=nhtsa/downloads/CRSS/ (CRSS). The files are available in

Statistical Analysis System (SAS) or Comma Separated Values (CSV) file formats. This will enable

you to process the data using your own computer system.

• Modest requests for specific data will be answered by NCSA at no charge. Response usually requires

about two weeks, depending on the nature and complexity of the data requested.

Requests for more information from FARS, NASS GES, or CRSS should be directed to:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

National Center for Statistics and Analysis, NSA-230

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20590

800-934-8517

Email: [email protected]

Additional information on all NHTSA’s data files, including FARS, NASS GES, and CRSS can be

found on the NCSA website at www.nhtsa.gov/data. Fact sheets, recent NCSA research notes, and

abstracts of technical reports can be downloaded in PDF format. Comments and suggestions about the

NCSA website can be emailed to [email protected].

Vehicle Safety Hotline

To report a motor vehicle safety-related problem or to inquire about safety information, contact the

Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Trends

10

1. Trends

The tables in this chapter present statistics about police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes over time.

Trends for fatal traffic crashes and traffic fatalities generally are presented from 1975 (when FARS

began operation) to 2021; however, tables with alcohol data from FARS show data only for the years

this data are available: 1982 to 2021. Trends for nonfatal crashes are presented from NASS GES (1988

to 2015) and CRSS (2016 to 2021). Trends for people injured are presented from FARS (1988 to 2021)

and NASS GES (1988 to 2015) or CRSS (2016 to 2021). NASS GES data should not be compared to

CRSS data. Furthermore, care should be taken when comparing nonfatal crash and injury statistics from

one year to the next. Since the statistics derived from NASS GES and CRSS data are estimates, year-to-

year differences may be the result of the sampling process, not the result of an actual trend. The

variability or sampling errors associated with the estimates must be considered when making any year-

to-year comparisons using NASS GES or CRSS data (for more information on sampling error, see

Appendix C). Below are some of the statistics you will find in this chapter.

• Fatal traffic crashes increased by 9.9 percent from 2020 to 2021, and the traffic fatality rate

increased to 1.37 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2021.

• The injury rate increased by 1.3 percent from 2020 to 2021, to 80 people injured per 100 million

VMT.

• The occupant fatality rate (including motorcyclists) per 100,000 population has declined by 38

percent from 1975 to 2021.

• The occupant injury rate (including motorcyclists) per 100,000 population, which declined by 45

percent from 1988 to 2015, decreased by 20 percent from 2016 to 2021.

• The nonoccupant fatality rate per 100,000 population has declined by 34 percent from 1975 to 2021.

• The nonoccupant injury rate per 100,000 population, which declined by 51 percent from 1988 to

2015, decreased by 31 percent from 2016 to 2021.

• The percent of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities has declined from 48 percent in 1982 to 31 percent

in 2021.

1. Trends

11

Figure 1. Crashes, by Crash Severity, 1975-2021

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Number of Fatal Crashes

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

1988 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Number of Injury Crashes

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

1988 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Number of Property-Damage-Only Crashes

1. Trends

12

Table 1. Crashes, by Crash Severity, 1988-2021

Year

Crash Severity

Total Crashes Fatal Injury Property Damage Only

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

1988

42,130

0.6

2,233,321

32.4

4,611,349

67.0

6,886,800

100.0

1989

40,741

0.6

2,153,095

32.4

4,458,979

67.0

6,652,815

100.0

1990

39,836

0.6

2,121,921

32.8

4,309,446

66.6

6,471,202

100.0

1991

36,937

0.6

2,007,635

32.8

4,072,787

66.6

6,117,359

100.0

1992

34,942

0.6

1,991,178

33.2

3,974,190

66.2

6,000,310

100.0

1993

35,780

0.6

2,021,945

33.1

4,048,190

66.3

6,105,915

100.0

1994

36,254

0.6

2,123,257

32.7

4,336,477

66.8

6,495,988

100.0

1995

37,241

0.6

2,216,670

33.1

4,445,504

66.4

6,699,415

100.0

1996

37,494

0.6

2,238,065

33.1

4,494,024

66.4

6,769,583

100.0

1997

37,324

0.6

2,148,985

32.4

4,437,840

67.0

6,624,149

100.0

1998

37,107

0.6

2,028,941

32.0

4,268,525

67.4

6,334,573

100.0

1999

37,140

0.6

2,054,256

32.7

4,187,640

66.7

6,279,036

100.0

2000

37,526

0.6

2,069,905

32.4

4,286,194

67.0

6,393,624

100.0

2001

37,862

0.6

2,002,710

31.7

4,282,391

67.7

6,322,963

100.0

2002

38,491

0.6

1,928,984

30.5

4,348,233

68.8

6,315,708

100.0

2003

38,477

0.6

1,924,912

30.4

4,364,566

69.0

6,327,955

100.0

2004

38,444

0.6

1,861,617

30.1

4,280,966

69.3

6,181,027

100.0

2005

39,252

0.6

1,816,105

29.5

4,303,993

69.9

6,159,350

100.0

2006

38,648

0.6

1,745,924

29.2

4,188,641

70.1

5,973,213

100.0

2007

37,435

0.6

1,711,304

28.4

4,275,269

71.0

6,024,008

100.0

2008

34,172

0.6

1,630,420

28.1

4,146,254

71.4

5,810,846

100.0

2009

30,862

0.6

1,517,075

27.6

3,957,243

71.9

5,505,180

100.0

2010

30,296

0.6

1,542,104

28.5

3,847,045

71.0

5,419,445

100.0

2011

29,867

0.6

1,529,968

28.7

3,777,994

70.8

5,337,829

100.0

2012

31,006

0.6

1,634,180

29.1

3,949,858

70.3

5,615,045

100.0

2013

30,202

0.5

1,591,016

28.0

4,065,673

71.5

5,686,891

100.0

2014

30,056

0.5

1,647,726

27.2

4,386,502

72.3

6,064,284

100.0

2015

32,538

0.5

1,715,394

27.2

4,548,203

72.2

6,296,134

100.0

2016

34,748

0.5

2,116,308

31.0

4,670,073

68.5

6,821,129

100.0

2017

34,560

0.5

1,888,525

29.3

4,529,513

70.2

6,452,598

100.0

2018

33,919

0.5

1,893,704

28.1

4,807,058

71.4

6,734,681

100.0

2019

33,487

0.5

1,916,344

28.4

4,806,253

71.1

6,756,084

100.0

2020

35,935

0.7

1,593,390

30.3

3,621,681

69.0

5,251,006

100.0

2021

39,508

0.6

1,727,608

28.3

4,335,820

71.0

6,102,936

100.0

Note: Injury and property-damage-only crash estimates from 1988-2015 and 2016 and later are not comparable because NASS GES and

CRSS have different sample designs. For more details, see page 5 of this report.

1. Trends

13

Table 2. People Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Population,

Licensed Drivers, Registered Vehicles, and VMT, 1966-2021

Killed

Year

Fatalities

Population

Fatality

Rate per

100,000

Population

Licensed

Drivers

Fatality

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Registered

Motor

Vehicles

Fatality

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

VMT

(millions)

Fatality

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

1966

50,894

196,560,338

25.89

100,998,000

50.39

95,703,030

53.18

925,899

5.50

1967

50,724

198,712,056

25.53

103,172,000

49.16

98,858,898

51.31

964,005

5.26

1968

52,725

200,706,052

26.27

105,410,000

50.02

102,987,134

51.20

1,015,869

5.19

1969

53,543

202,676,946

26.42

108,306,000

49.44

107,412,077

49.85

1,061,791

5.04

1970

52,627

205,052,174

25.67

111,543,000

47.18

111,242,295

47.31

1,109,724

4.74

1971

52,542

207,660,677

25.30

114,426,000

45.92

116,330,037

45.17

1,178,811

4.46

1972

54,589

209,896,021

26.01

118,414,000

46.10

122,556,550

44.54

1,259,786

4.33

1973

54,052

211,908,788

25.51

121,546,000

44.47

130,024,945

41.57

1,313,110

4.12

1974

45,196

213,853,928

21.13

125,427,000

36.03

134,899,955

33.50

1,280,544

3.53

1975

44,525

215,973,199

20.62

129,791,000

34.31

126,153,304

35.29

1,327,664

3.35

1976

45,523

218,035,164

20.88

134,036,000

33.96

130,793,242

34.81

1,402,380

3.25

1977

47,878

220,239,425

21.74

138,121,000

34.66

134,514,286

35.59

1,467,027

3.26

1978

50,331

222,584,545

22.61

140,844,000

35.74

140,374,064

35.85

1,544,704

3.26

1979

51,093

225,055,487

22.70

143,284,000

35.66

144,317,076

35.40

1,529,133

3.34

1980

51,091

227,224,681

22.48

145,295,000

35.16

146,845,134

34.79

1,527,295

3.35

1981

49,301

229,465,714

21.49

147,075,000

33.52

149,330,311

33.01

1,555,308

3.17

1982

43,945

231,664,458

18.97

150,234,000

29.25

151,147,755

29.07

1,595,010

2.76

1983

42,589

233,791,994

18.22

154,389,000

27.59

153,829,970

27.69

1,652,788

2.58

1984

44,257

235,824,902

18.77

155,424,000

28.48

158,899,717

27.85

1,720,269

2.57

1985

43,825

237,923,795

18.42

156,868,000

27.94

166,047,491

26.39

1,774,826

2.47

1986

46,087

240,132,887

19.19

159,486,000

28.90

168,545,286

27.34

1,834,872

2.51

1987

46,390

242,288,918

19.15

161,816,000

28.67

172,749,894

26.85

1,921,204

2.41

1988

47,087

244,498,982

19.26

162,854,000

28.91

177,455,476

26.53

2,025,962

2.32

1989

45,582

246,819,230

18.47

165,554,000

27.53

181,164,568

25.16

2,096,487

2.17

1990

44,599

249,464,396

17.88

167,015,000

26.70

184,275,422

24.20

2,144,362

2.08

1991

41,508

252,153,092

16.46

168,995,000

24.56

186,370,190

22.27

2,172,050

1.91

1992

39,250

255,029,699

15.39

173,125,000

22.67

184,937,848

21.22

2,247,151

1.75

1993

40,150

257,782,608

15.58

173,149,000

23.19

188,349,676

21.32

2,296,378

1.75

1994

40,716

260,327,021

15.64

175,403,000

23.21

192,497,438

21.15

2,357,588

1.73

1995

41,817

262,803,276

15.91

176,628,482

23.68

197,064,868

21.22

2,422,823

1.73

1996

42,065

265,228,572

15.86

179,539,340

23.43

201,630,659

20.86

2,484,080

1.69

1997

42,013

267,783,607

15.69

182,709,204

22.99

203,567,637

20.64

2,552,233

1.65

1998

41,501

270,248,003

15.36

184,860,969

22.45

208,076,469

19.95

2,628,148

1.58

1999

41,717

272,690,813

15.30

187,170,420

22.29

212,685,157

19.61

2,690,241

1.55

2000

41,945

282,162,411

14.87

190,625,023

22.00

217,028,324

19.33

2,746,925

1.53

2001

42,196

284,968,955

14.81

191,275,719

22.06

221,230,149

19.07

2,795,610

1.51

2002

43,005

287,625,193

14.95

194,602,202

22.10

225,684,815

19.06

2,855,508

1.51

2003

42,884

290,107,933

14.78

196,165,667

21.86

230,633,079

18.59

2,890,221

1.48

2004

42,836

292,805,298

14.63

198,888,912

21.54

237,948,530

18.00

2,964,788

1.44

2005

43,510

295,516,599

14.72

200,548,972

21.70

245,628,199

17.71

2,989,430

1.46

2006

42,708

298,379,912

14.31

202,810,438

21.06

251,415,320

16.99

3,014,371

1.42

2007

41,259

301,231,207

13.70

205,741,845

20.05

257,472,378

16.02

3,031,124

1.36

2008

37,423

304,093,966

12.31

208,320,601

17.96

259,360,494

14.43

2,976,528

1.26

2009

33,883

306,771,529

11.05

209,618,386

16.16

258,957,503

13.08

2,956,764

1.15

2010

32,999

309,327,143

10.67

210,114,939

15.71

257,312,235

12.82

2,967,266

1.11

2011

32,479

311,583,481

10.42

211,874,649

15.33

265,043,362

12.25

2,945,194

1.10

2012

33,782

313,877,662

10.76

211,814,830

15.95

265,647,194

12.72

2,963,497

1.14

2013

32,893

316,059,947

10.41

212,159,728

15.50

269,294,302

12.21

2,982,941

1.10

2014

32,744

318,386,329

10.28

214,092,472

15.29

274,804,904

11.92

3,020,377

1.08

2015

35,484

320,738,994

11.06

218,084,465

16.27

281,312,446

12.61

3,089,841

1.15

2016

37,806

323,071,755

11.70

221,711,918

17.05

288,033,900

13.13

3,173,815

1.19

2017

37,473

325,122,128

11.53

225,346,257

16.63

290,335,891

12.91

3,210,248

1.17

2018

36,835

326,838,199

11.27

227,558,385

16.19

297,036,214

12.40

3,240,327

1.14

2019

36,355

328,329,953

11.07

228,915,520

15.88

299,267,114

12.15

3,261,772

1.11

2020

39,007

331,501,080

11.77

228,195,802

17.09

297,100,832

13.13

2,903,622

1.34

2021

42,939

331,893,745

12.94

232,781,797

18.45

302,722,453

14.18

3,132,411

1.37

Note: See footnotes at the end of Table 2.

1. Trends

14

Table 2. People Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Population,

Licensed Drivers, Registered Vehicles, and VMT, 1966-2021 (Continued)

Injured

Year

Injured

Population

Injury Rate

per 100,000

Population

Licensed

Drivers

Injury Rate

per 100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Registered

Motor

Vehicles

Injury Rate

per 100,000

Registered

Vehicles

VMT

(millions)

Injury Rate

per 100

Million

VMT

1988

3,427,486

244,498,982

1,402

162,854,000

2,105

177,455,476

1,931

2,025,962

169

1989

3,292,053

246,819,230

1,334

165,554,000

1,989

181,164,568

1,817

2,096,487

157

1990

3,246,271

249,464,396

1,301

167,015,000

1,944

184,275,422

1,762

2,144,362

151

1991

3,106,984

252,153,092

1,232

168,995,000

1,839

186,370,190

1,667

2,172,050

143

1992

3,079,446

255,029,699

1,207

173,125,000

1,779

184,937,848

1,665

2,247,151

137

1993

3,163,411

257,782,608

1,227

173,149,000

1,827

188,349,676

1,680

2,296,378

138

1994

3,274,962

260,327,021

1,258

175,403,000

1,867

192,497,438

1,701

2,357,588

139

1995

3,476,261

262,803,276

1,323

176,628,482

1,968

197,064,868

1,764

2,422,823

143

1996

3,479,974

265,228,572

1,312

179,539,340

1,938

201,630,659

1,726

2,484,080

140

1997

3,360,383

267,783,607

1,255

182,709,204

1,839

203,567,637

1,651

2,552,233

132

1998

3,199,472

270,248,003

1,184

184,860,969

1,731

208,076,469

1,538

2,628,148

122

1999

3,249,784

272,690,813

1,192

187,170,420

1,736

212,685,157

1,528

2,690,241

121

2000

3,193,759

282,162,411

1,132

190,625,023

1,675

217,028,324

1,472

2,746,925

116

2001

3,042,284

284,968,955

1,068

191,275,719

1,591

221,230,149

1,375

2,795,610

109

2002

2,939,143

287,625,193

1,022

194,602,202

1,510

225,684,815

1,302

2,855,508

103

2003

2,901,753

290,107,933

1,000

196,165,667

1,479

230,633,079

1,258

2,890,221

100

2004

2,801,646

292,805,298

957

198,888,912

1,409

237,948,530

1,177

2,964,788

94

2005

2,709,099

295,516,599

917

200,548,972

1,351

245,628,199

1,103

2,989,430

91

2006

2,583,068

298,379,912

866

202,810,438

1,274

251,415,320

1,027

3,014,371

86

2007

2,498,785

301,231,207

830

205,741,845

1,215

257,472,378

971

3,031,124

82

2008

2,355,972

304,093,966

775

208,320,601

1,131

259,360,494

908

2,976,528

79

2009

2,223,537

306,771,529

725

209,618,386

1,061

258,957,503

859

2,956,764

75

2010

2,247,988

309,327,143

727

210,114,939

1,070

257,312,235

874

2,967,266

76

2011

2,227,209

311,583,481

715

211,874,649

1,051

265,043,362

840

2,945,194

76

2012

2,369,083

313,877,662

755

211,814,830

1,118

265,647,194

892

2,963,497

80

2013

2,318,992

316,059,947

734

212,159,728

1,093

269,294,302

861

2,982,941

78

2014

2,342,621

318,386,329

736

214,092,472

1,094

274,804,904

852

3,020,377

78

2015

2,454,778

320,738,994

765

218,084,465

1,126

281,312,446

873

3,089,841

79

2016

3,061,885

323,071,755

948

221,711,918

1,381

288,033,900

1,063

3,173,815

96

2017

2,745,268

325,122,128

844

225,346,257

1,218

290,335,891

946

3,210,248

86

2018

2,710,059

326,838,199

829

227,558,385

1,191

297,036,214

912

3,240,327

84

2019

2,740,141

328,329,953

835

228,915,520

1,197

299,267,114

916

3,261,772

84

2020

2,282,209

331,501,080

688

228,195,802

1,000

297,100,832

768

2,903,622

79

2021

2,497,657

331,893,745

753

232,781,797

1,073

302,722,453

825

3,132,411

80

Sources: VMT and Licensed Drivers—FHWA; Registered Vehicles, 1966-1974—FHWA; Registered Vehicles, 1975-2021—FHWA and

Center for Health Statistics, D.H.H.S., State Accident Summaries (adjusted to 30-day traffic deaths by NHTSA); Traffic Deaths, 1975-

2020—FARS, NHTSA, 30-day traffic deaths; People Injured—FARS and NASS GES/CRSS

Notes: Some States include restricted driver licenses and graduated driver licenses in their licensed driver counts. Due to an enhancement

those years changed considerably from the counts provided for 2010 and earlier years. This should be considered when comparing

registration numbers and rates per registered vehicle 2010 and earlier years with those for 2011 and later years. For more details, see pages

6-7 of this report. Estimates for people injured from 1988-2015 and 2016 and later are not comparable because NASS GES and CRSS have

different sample designs. For more details, see page 5 of this report.

1. Trends

15

Figure 2. Motor Vehicle Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT, 1966-2021

Source: VMT—FHWA, revised by NHTSA for passenger cars and light trucks

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

1966 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Fatality Rate per 100 Million VMT

0

50

100

150

200

1988 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Injury Rate per 100 Million VMT

1. Trends

16

Table 3. Vehicles Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per VMT and per

Registered Vehicle, by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity, 1975-2021

Year

Vehicle Type

Passenger Cars Light Trucks Large Trucks Motorcycles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Fatal Crashes

1975

37,897

3.68

40.11

8,636

4.23

41.35

3,977

4.89

74.16

3,265

58.00

65.77

1976

37,206

3.48

38.35

9,300

3.98

40.80

4,435

5.15

79.55

3,343

55.69

67.76

1977

39,038

3.54

39.45

10,400

4.04

42.57

5,164

5.43

90.76

4,164

65.59

84.41

1978

40,544

3.57

39.81

11,898

4.11

43.61

5,759

5.45

98.28

4,643

64.86

95.38

1979

39,999

3.60

38.63

12,544

4.27

43.36

6,084

5.58

103.27

4,916

56.92

90.67

1980

39,059

3.53

37.28

12,680

4.29

42.18

5,379

4.96

92.89

5,194

50.85

91.22

1981

38,864

3.46

36.66

12,331

4.01

39.48

5,230

4.81

91.49

4,963

46.43

85.11

1982

34,334

3.00

32.11

11,317

3.51

35.03

4,646

4.17

83.11

4,495

45.36

78.12

1983

33,298

2.80

30.52

11,118

3.32

33.62

4,877

4.20

88.54

4,302

49.11

77.03

1984

34,648

2.83

30.89

11,973

3.34

33.96

5,124

4.21

94.87

4,659

53.04

85.02

1985

34,277

2.74

29.46

12,464

3.21

33.09

5,153

4.17

85.94

4,608

50.72

84.64

1986

36,195

2.83

30.87

13,327

3.20

33.52

5,097

4.02

89.09

4,570

48.63

87.90

1987

36,580

2.75

30.52

14,514

3.27

34.81

5,108

3.83

89.33

4,067

42.78

83.24

1988

36,977

2.67

30.43

15,286

3.13

34.27

5,241

3.80

85.40

3,715

37.06

81.04

1989

35,410

2.50

28.85

15,700

3.00

33.31

4,984

3.49

80.05

3,192

30.78

72.21

1990

34,085

2.39

27.65

15,620

2.81

31.29

4,776

3.27

77.08

3,276

34.28

76.91

1991

31,291

2.22

25.37

14,832

2.49

28.49

4,347

2.91

70.43

2,829

30.82

67.72

1992

29,817

2.08

24.78

14,648

2.28

27.21

4,035

2.63

66.75

2,439

25.52

60.00

1993

30,233

2.09

24.97

15,332

2.27

27.10

4,328

2.71

71.09

2,477

25.01

62.27

1994

30,273

2.07

24.81

16,353

2.30

27.49

4,644

2.73

70.49

2,339

22.84

62.26

1995

30,940

2.09

25.11

17,587

2.35

28.13

4,472

2.51

66.55

2,268

23.15

58.20

1996

30,727

2.05

24.66

18,246

2.32

27.88

4,755

2.60

67.81

2,176

21.94

56.20

1997

30,059

1.97

24.11

18,628

2.26

27.68

4,917

2.57

69.42

2,160

21.43

56.45

1998

29,040

1.87

23.05

19,363

2.25

27.75

4,955

2.52

64.08

2,334

22.70

60.16

1999

28,027

1.79

22.05

19,959

2.22

27.37

4,920

2.43

63.15

2,532

23.92

60.98

2000

27,802

1.76

21.73

20,498

2.18

26.98

4,995

2.43

62.26

2,975

28.42

68.45

2001

27,586

1.73

21.38

20,831

2.14

26.48

4,823

2.31

61.38

3,265

33.89

66.59

2002

27,374

1.70

21.00

21,668

2.14

26.54

4,587

2.14

57.86

3,365

35.23

67.24

2003

26,562

1.65

20.17

22,299

2.14

26.21

4,721

2.17

60.86

3,802

39.70

70.80

2004

25,682

1.58

19.25

22,486

2.05

25.04

4,902

2.22

59.99

4,121

40.71

71.45

2005

25,169

1.56

18.60

22,964

2.03

24.23

4,951

2.22

58.37

4,682

44.79

75.19

2006

24,260

1.50

17.70

22,411

1.94

22.85

4,766

2.14

54.04

4,963

41.19

74.31

2007

22,856

1.47

16.57

21,810

1.92

21.63

4,633

1.52

43.09

5,306

24.80

74.33

2008

20,474

1.34

14.73

19,179

1.73

19.01

4,089

1.32

37.61

5,409

25.99

69.77

2009

18,413

1.22

13.42

17,958

1.60

17.60

3,211

1.11

29.26

4,603

22.11

58.05

2010

17,804

1.18

13.16

17,491

1.53

17.09

3,494

1.22

32.44

4,651

25.12

58.07

2011

17,508

1.28

13.79

16,806

1.31

14.16

3,633

1.36

35.37

4,769

25.72

56.52

2012

18,269

1.33

14.38

17,350

1.35

14.62

3,825

1.42

35.88

5,113

23.91

60.47

2013

17,957

1.30

13.93

16,928

1.31

14.05

3,921

1.43

37.00

4,800

23.57

57.11

2014

17,895

1.28

13.65

17,160

1.31

13.90

3,749

1.34

34.38

4,705

23.56

55.89

2015

19,810

1.39

14.87

18,869

1.39

14.81

4,075

1.46

36.37

5,131

26.17

59.66

2016

21,077

1.46

15.63

19,920

1.41

15.08

4,562

1.58

39.67

5,467

26.74

62.99

2017

21,273

1.49

16.01

20,015

1.38

14.76

4,805

1.61

39.29

5,381

26.71

62.11

2018

20,594

1.47

15.50

19,902

1.33

14.08

4,909

1.61

37.09

5,172

25.76

59.72

2019

19,804

1.44

15.25

19,945

1.29

13.59

5,033

1.68

38.46

5,146

26.14

59.86

2020

19,186

1.85

17.35

22,440

1.46

13.66

4,821

1.62

37.37

5,639

31.42

67.55

2021

21,118

1.96

19.57

25,704

1.52

15.11

5,700

1.74

41.13

6,082

30.96

61.55

Note: See footnotes at the end of Table 3.

1. Trends

17

Table 3. Vehicles Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per VMT and per

Registered Vehicle, by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity, 1975-2021 (Continued)

Year

Vehicle Type

Passenger Cars

Light Trucks

Large Trucks

Motorcycles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Injury Crashes

1988

3,073,018

222

2,529

682,594

140

1,530

95,853

69

1,562

97,602

974

2,129

1989

2,891,518

204

2,355

727,055

139

1,543

110,195

77

1,770

75,911

732

1,717

1990

2,838,171

199

2,302

728,651

131

1,460

107,160

73

1,730

81,606

854

1,916

1991

2,614,871

185

2,120

788,695

132

1,515

77,999

52

1,264

78,605

856

1,882

1992

2,640,258

184

2,194

758,443

118

1,409

94,725

62

1,567

61,347

642

1,509

1993

2,631,176

182

2,174

842,671

125

1,490

96,522

60

1,585

55,970

565

1,407

1994

2,784,727

191

2,283

912,066

128

1,533

95,631

56

1,452

53,839

526

1,433

1995

2,914,074

197

2,365

1,024,272

137

1,638

83,594

47

1,244

51,888

530

1,331

1996

2,883,910

192

2,314

1,070,503

136

1,636

93,887

51

1,339

50,812

512

1,312

1997

2,736,459

179

2,195

1,064,246

129

1,582

95,545

50

1,349

50,535

501

1,321

1998

2,545,063

164

2,020

1,058,930

123

1,517

88,624

45

1,146

44,536

433

1,148

1999

2,437,505

155

1,918

1,165,266

129

1,598

100,630

50

1,292

46,116

436

1,111

2000

2,396,276

151

1,873

1,209,169

129

1,591

100,521

49

1,253

53,277

509

1,226

2001

2,278,583

143

1,766

1,217,799

125

1,548

89,824

43

1,143

56,628

588

1,155

2002

2,136,278

132

1,639

1,209,943

120

1,482

94,274

44

1,189

58,422

612

1,167

2003

2,129,232

132

1,617

1,232,615

118

1,449

88,797

41

1,145

63,644

665

1,185

2004

1,989,822

122

1,491

1,245,877

114

1,387

86,769

39

1,062

70,224

694

1,217

2005

1,893,402

117

1,399

1,208,917

107

1,275

82,388

37

971

80,363

769

1,291

2006

1,793,504

111

1,309

1,201,551

104

1,225

80,333

36

911

83,567

694

1,251

2007

1,708,363

110

1,239

1,162,733

102

1,153

75,749

25

705

98,061

458

1,374

2008

1,623,535

107

1,168

1,095,252

99

1,086

66,151

21

608

90,080

433

1,162

2009

1,506,595

100

1,098

1,066,231

95

1,045

53,411

19

487

84,420

405

1,065

2010

1,578,724

105

1,167

1,053,326

92

1,029

58,268

20

541

77,565

419

968

2011

1,571,452

115

1,238

1,025,935

80

864

62,534

23

609

76,545

413

907

2012

1,683,457

122

1,325

1,087,044

84

916

76,621

28

719

88,920

416

1,052

2013

1,662,150

120

1,289

1,076,076

83

893

73,089

27

690

84,099

413

1,001

2014

1,684,885

121

1,285

1,138,419

87

922

88,473

32

811

86,945

435

1,033

2015

1,784,972

126

1,340

1,198,413

88

941

87,307

31

779

84,309

430

980

2016

2,186,867

152

1,622

1,468,661

104

1,112

102,080

35

888

100,470

491

1,158

2017

1,956,133

137

1,472

1,334,165

92

984

106,733

36

873

85,165

423

983

2018

1,960,292

140

1,476

1,315,057

88

931

112,253

37

848

78,946

393

912

2019

1,958,397

143

1,508

1,376,632

89

938

118,527

40

906

80,541

409

937

2020

1,256,865

121

1,136

1,196,821

78

729

104,741

35

812

75,124

419

900

2021

1,371,340

128

1,271

1,345,007

79

791

117,312

36

846

79,084

403

800

Note: See footnotes at the end of Table 3.

1. Trends

18

Table 3. Vehicles Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per VMT and per

Registered Vehicle, by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity, 1975-2021 (Continued)

Year

Vehicle Type

Passenger Cars

Light Trucks

Large Trucks

Motorcycles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Number

Involvement

Rate per

100 Million

VMT

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Registered

Vehicles

Property-Damage-Only Crashes

1988

6,050,002

437

4,979

1,542,468

316

3,458

296,969

215

4,839

20,756

207

453

1989

5,677,937

401

4,625

1,612,600

309

3,421

300,452

210

4,825

19,508

188

441

1990

5,485,396

384

4,450

1,654,283

298

3,314

273,299

187

4,411

19,896

208

467

1991

5,084,089

360

4,122

1,675,088

281

3,217

248,271

166

4,022

24,588

268

589

1992

4,851,763

338

4,031

1,703,913

265

3,165

277,243

181

4,586

9,574

100

236

1993

4,788,724

331

3,956

1,884,378

279

3,331

295,917

185

4,861

16,702

169

420

1994

5,126,409

351

4,202

2,022,852

284

3,401

360,135

212

5,467

13,097

128

349

1995

5,334,994

361

4,329

2,148,728

287

3,437

289,386

162

4,307

12,838

131

329

1996

5,280,700

352

4,238

2,273,930

289

3,475

295,154

161

4,209

13,728

138

355

1997

5,116,422

335

4,104

2,313,969

281

3,439

337,207

176

4,761

10,261

102

268

1998

4,895,876

315

3,887

2,314,874

269

3,317

318,073

162

4,114

8,612

84

222

1999

4,469,348

285

3,517

2,491,389

277

3,416

369,209

182

4,739

10,213

96

246

2000

4,466,805

282

3,491

2,621,407

279

3,450

351,159

171

4,377

13,937

133

321

2001

4,399,079

276

3,409

2,679,499

275

3,406

334,850

160

4,261

14,468

150

295

2002

4,442,683

275

3,408

2,756,622

273

3,376

335,517

156

4,232

16,518

173

330

2003

4,355,703

270

3,308

2,804,228

269

3,297

363,111

167

4,681

13,575

142

253

2004

4,216,289

259

3,160

2,885,596

263

3,213

324,369

147

3,970

13,334

132

231

2005

4,168,818

258

3,081

2,919,414

258

3,080

354,213

159

4,176

18,140

174

291

2006

4,046,479

250

2,953

2,932,390

254

2,990

299,707

135

3,398

15,371

128

230

2007

4,014,368

258

2,910

3,007,245

265

2,983

333,110

110

3,098

19,874

93

278

2008

3,930,970

258

2,827

2,848,471

258

2,824

309,368

100

2,845

18,244

88

235

2009

3,686,062

244

2,687

2,865,941

255

2,810

239,298

83

2,181

16,709

80

211

2010

3,753,670

249

2,774

2,704,499

237

2,642

213,940

75

1,986

14,241

77

178

2011

3,739,513

273

2,945

2,581,846

202

2,175

221,225

83

2,154

18,206

98

216

2012

3,875,068

281

3,049

2,705,815

210

2,280

252,837

94

2,372

17,863

84

211

2013

3,989,038

288

3,094

2,776,111

215

2,304

264,904

96

2,500

17,609

86

210

2014

4,278,990

306

3,263

3,028,097

230

2,452

345,873

124

3,171

18,836

94

224

2015

4,438,039

312

3,331

3,196,668

235

2,509

341,548

122

3,049

12,906

66

150

2016

4,534,775

315

3,363

3,181,475

226

2,409

351,138

122

3,054

28,353

139

327

2017

4,354,283

306

3,277

3,188,013

219

2,351

363,372

122

2,971

25,754

128

297

2018

4,677,339

333

3,521

3,335,291

223

2,360

413,805

136

3,127

24,949

124

288

2019

4,582,701

334

3,530

3,450,412

222

2,351

413,972

138

3,164

24,876

126

289

2020

2,705,586

261

2,446

2,799,961

182

1,705

321,859

108

2,495

15,544

87

186

2021

3,150,971

293

2,919

3,378,008

199

1,986

400,784

123

2,892

19,704

100

199

Sources: VMT—FHWA, revised by NHTSA for passenger cars and light trucks; Registered Passenger Cars and Light Trucks—Polk data

Notes: See Tables 7 to 10 for notes regarding an enhanced methodology used to estimate registered vehicles and VMT for 2007 and after.

Some States include restricted driver licenses and graduated driver licenses in their licensed driver counts. Due to an enhancement in the

registration counts for those years changed considerably from the counts provided for 2010 and earlier years. This should be considered

when comparing registration numbers and rates per registered vehicle for 2010 and earlier years with those for 2011 and later years. For

more details, see pages 6-7 of this report. Estimates for vehicles involved in injury and property-damage-only crashes from 1988-2015 and

2016 and later are not comparable because NASS GES and CRSS have different sample designs. For more details, see page 5 of this report.

The methodology for vehicle type classifications changed in 2020. For more details, see pages 5-6 of this report.

1. Trends

19

Table 4. People Killed and Injured, by Person Type and Vehicle Type, 1975-2021

Year

Person Type

Total

Occupants by Vehicle Type

Motor-

cyclists

Nonoccupants

Passenger

Cars

Light

Trucks

Large

Trucks Buses

Other/

Unknown Total Pedestrians Pedalcyclists

Other/

Unknown Total

Killed

1975

25,929

4,856

961

53

937

32,736

3,189

7,516

1,003

81

8,600

44,525

1976

26,166

5,438

1,132

73

981

33,790

3,312

7,427

914

80

8,421

45,523

1977

26,782

5,976

1,287

42

959

35,046

4,104

7,732

922

74

8,728

47,878

1978

28,153

6,745

1,395

41

622

36,956

4,577

7,795

892

111

8,798

50,331

1979

27,808

7,178

1,432

39

579

37,036

4,894

8,096

932

135

9,163

51,093

1980

27,449

7,486

1,262

46

540

36,783

5,144

8,070

965

129

9,164

51,091

1981

26,645

7,081

1,133

56

603

35,518

4,906

7,837

936

104

8,877

49,301

1982

23,330

6,359

944

35

525

31,193

4,453

7,331

883

85

8,299

43,945

1983

22,979

6,202

982

53

362

30,578

4,265

6,826

839

81

7,746

42,589

1984

23,620

6,496

1,074

46

440

31,676

4,608

7,025

849

99

7,973

44,257

1985

23,212

6,689

977

57

544

31,479

4,564

6,808

890

84

7,782

43,825

1986

24,944

7,317

926

39

442

33,668

4,566

6,779

941

133

7,853

46,087

1987

25,132

8,058

852

51

436

34,529

4,036

6,745

948

132

7,825

46,390

1988

25,808

8,306

911

54

429

35,508

3,662

6,870

911

136

7,917

47,087

1989

25,063

8,551

858

50

424

34,946

3,141

6,556

832

107

7,495

45,582

1990

24,092

8,601

705

32

460

33,890

3,244

6,482

859

124

7,465

44,599

1991

22,385

8,391

661

31

466

31,934

2,806

5,801

843

124

6,768

41,508

1992

21,387

8,098

585

28

387

30,485

2,395

5,549

723

98

6,370

39,250

1993

21,566

8,511

605

18

425

31,125

2,449

5,649

816

111

6,576

40,150

1994

21,997

8,904

670

18

409

31,998

2,320

5,489

802

107

6,398

40,716

1995

22,423

9,568

648

33

392

33,064

2,227

5,584

833

109

6,526

41,817

1996

22,505

9,932

621

21

455

33,534

2,161

5,449

765

154

6,368

42,065*

1997

22,199

10,249

723

18

420

33,609

2,116

5,321

814

153

6,288

42,013

1998

21,194

10,705

742

38

409

33,088

2,294

5,228

760

131

6,119

41,501

1999

20,862

11,265

759

59

447

33,392

2,483

4,939

754

149

5,842

41,717

2000

20,699

11,526

754

22

450

33,451

2,897

4,763

693

141

5,597

41,945

2001

20,320

11,723

708

34

458

33,243

3,197

4,901

732

123

5,756

42,196

2002

20,569

12,274

689

45

528

34,105

3,270

4,851

665

114

5,630

43,005

2003

19,725

12,546

726

41

589

33,627

3,714

4,774

629

140

5,543

42,884

2004

19,192

12,674

766

42

602

33,276

4,028

4,675

727

130

5,532

42,836

2005

18,512

13,037

804

58

659

33,070

4,576

4,892

786

186

5,864

43,510

2006

17,925

12,761

805

27

601

32,119

4,837

4,795

772

185

5,752

42,708

2007

16,614

12,458

805

36

614

30,527

5,174

4,699

701

158

5,558

41,259

2008

14,646

10,816

682

67

580

26,791

5,312

4,414

718

188

5,320

37,423

2009

13,135

10,312

499

26

554

24,526

4,469

4,109

628

151

4,888

33,883

2010

12,491

9,782

530

44

524

23,371

4,518

4,302

623

185

5,110

32,999

2011

12,014

9,302

640

55

499

22,510

4,630

4,457

682

200

5,339

32,479

2012

12,361

9,418

697

39

502

23,017

4,986

4,818

734

227

5,779

33,782

2013

12,037

9,186

695

54

511

22,483

4,692

4,779

749

190

5,718

32,893

2014

11,947

9,103

656

44

557

22,307

4,594

4,910

729

204

5,843

32,744

2015

12,763

9,878

665

49

544

23,899

5,029

5,494

829

233

6,556

35,484

2016

13,508

10,279

815

64

610

25,276

5,337

6,080

853

260

7,193

37,806

2017

13,477

10,186

878

43

546

25,130

5,226

6,075

806

236

7,117

37,473

2018

12,888

9,957

890

44

553

24,332

5,038

6,374

871

220

7,465

36,835

2019

12,355

10,017

893

35

591

23,891

5,044

6,272

859

289

7,420

36,355

2020

12,628

11,286

822

19

976

25,731

5,506

6,565

948

257

7,770

39,007

2021

13,529

12,796

1,008

14

1,011

28,358

5,932

7,388

966

295

8,649

42,939

*Includes two fatalities of unknown person type. This attribute was only available in 1996.

Note: The methodology for vehicle type classifications changed in 2020. For more details, see pages 5-6 of this report.

1. Trends

20

Table 4. People Killed and Injured, by Person Type and Vehicle Type, 1975-2021

(Continued)

Year

Person Type

Total

Occupants by Vehicle Type

Motor-

cyclists

Nonoccupants

Passenger

Cars

Light

Trucks

Large

Trucks Buses

Other/

Unknown Total Pedestrians Pedalcyclists

Other/

Unknown Total

Injured

1988

2,589,729

482,033

37,884

15,441

4,463

3,129,550

105,257

110,398

74,560

7,721

192,679

3,427,486

1989

2,432,460

516,898

42,016

15,744

5,286

3,012,405

83,181

112,056

72,971

11,441

196,468

3,292,053

1990

2,384,199

510,956

41,929

33,508

3,950

2,974,542

84,635

105,198

74,829

7,067

187,093

3,246,271

1991

2,239,505

565,376

28,568

21,676

4,343

2,859,468

80,909

88,594

67,128

10,885

166,607

3,106,984

1992

2,235,970

549,417

33,653

20,904

12,642

2,852,586

65,166

88,923

62,720

10,052

161,695

3,079,446

1993

2,272,964

605,501

31,956

17,694

4,352

2,932,468

59,731

94,189

67,919

9,105

171,213

3,163,411

1994

2,368,302

634,089

30,324

16,436

3,806

3,052,956

57,629

92,298

62,519

9,559

164,377

3,274,962

1995

2,474,585

727,054

30,613

19,570

4,702

3,256,524

57,878

85,983

66,609

9,266

161,859

3,476,261

1996

2,453,195

762,572

32,807

20,800

4,393

3,273,767

55,385

81,877

57,765

11,179

150,821

3,479,974

1997

2,345,425

761,511

31,561

17,427

5,731

3,161,656

52,734

77,146

57,834

11,013

145,993

3,360,383

1998

2,205,226

765,412

28,241

15,997

4,440

3,019,315

49,218

69,150

53,413

8,375

130,939

3,199,472

1999

2,143,002

853,022

33,736

22,884

7,293

3,059,938

49,913

85,346

51,187

3,399

139,933

3,249,784

2000

2,057,089

886,198

30,659

17,462

9,874

3,001,281

57,792

77,941

51,184

5,560

134,685

3,193,759

2001

1,929,996

865,888

29,699

15,525

9,426

2,850,533

60,296

77,704

45,292

8,459

131,455

3,042,284

2002

1,810,510

885,373

26,741

19,437

6,143

2,748,204

65,005

70,888

47,939

7,107

125,934

2,939,143

2003

1,762,001

895,774

26,333

18,731

6,916

2,709,756

67,413

70,292

46,309

7,985

124,585

2,901,753

2004

1,649,483

905,696

27,594

17,008

7,119

2,606,901

76,239

68,146

41,063

9,298

118,507

2,801,646

2005

1,579,857

874,137

27,926

11,727

10,039

2,503,686

87,564

64,578

45,443

7,827

117,848

2,709,099

2006

1,478,909

859,687

23,414

10,376

11,066

2,383,452

87,866

61,107

43,724

6,919

111,750

2,583,068

2007

1,382,640

844,990

23,360

12,833

7,774

2,271,597

103,301

70,298

43,487

10,102

123,887

2,498,785

2008

1,307,512

773,276

23,645

15,801

9,400

2,129,634

96,041

68,988

52,428

8,882

130,298

2,355,972

2009

1,219,183

762,172

16,419

12,509

7,212

2,017,495

89,498

58,871

50,719

6,954

116,544

2,223,537

2010

1,256,101

737,152

19,937

17,586

4,794

2,035,571

82,300

70,267

51,688

8,162

130,117

2,247,988

2011

1,243,706

732,764

22,936

13,807

6,047

2,019,259

81,706

69,036

48,134

9,073

126,243

2,227,209

2012

1,330,250

766,295

25,372

12,410

5,846

2,140,173

93,251

76,129

49,300

10,231

135,659

2,369,083

2013

1,298,569

752,585

24,621

23,954

5,098

2,104,828

88,760

65,929

48,088

11,387

125,404

2,318,992

2014

1,294,030

783,906

27,146

13,697

6,359

2,125,137

91,987

65,072

50,414

10,010

125,497

2,342,621

2015

1,382,271

808,707

30,102

11,942

7,555

2,240,578

88,738

70,077

45,066

10,319

125,463

2,454,778

2016

1,690,359

1,034,963

36,183

24,562

5,133

2,791,199

104,442

86,399

64,218

15,628

166,245

3,061,885

2017

1,528,666

937,147

39,992

12,484

4,986

2,523,274

88,592

71,290

49,698

12,414

133,401

2,745,268

2018

1,510,852

921,272

39,200

15,011

5,295

2,491,630

81,859

75,157

46,536

14,877

136,570

2,710,059

2019

1,498,083

949,902

45,688

15,255

7,075

2,516,003

83,814

75,650

49,057

15,617

140,324

2,740,141

2020

1,022,587

884,424

41,566

7,985

140,459

2,097,022

78,944

54,771

38,886

12,587

106,244

2,282,209

2021

1,108,721

983,820

42,164

11,663

151,522

2,297,890

82,686

60,577

41,615

14,889

117,081

2,497,657

Notes: Estimates for people injured from 1988-2015 and 2016 and later are not comparable because NASS GES and CRSS have different

sample designs. For more details, see page 5 of this report. The methodology for vehicle type classifications changed in 2020. For more

details, see pages 5-6 of this report.

1. Trends

21

Table 5. Drivers Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per Licensed Driver, by Sex

and Crash Severity, 1975-2021

Year

Sex

Total* Male Female

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Drivers in Fatal Crashes

1975

45,651

70,505,000

64.75

9,457

59,286,000

15.95

55,142

129,791,000

42.49

1976

45,633

72,523,000

62.92

10,044

61,513,000

16.33

55,697

134,036,000

41.55

1977

49,134

74,467,000

65.98

10,892

63,654,000

17.11

60,049

138,121,000

43.48

1978

52,235

75,594,000

69.10

11,338

65,250,000

17.38

63,600

140,844,000

45.16

1979

52,783

76,532,000

68.97

11,409

66,753,000

17.09

64,231

143,284,000

44.83

1980

51,463

77,187,000

66.67

11,466

68,108,000

16.84

62,957

145,295,000

43.33

1981

50,336

77,888,000

64.63

11,509

69,187,000

16.63

62,154

147,075,000

42.26

1982

44,370

78,553,000

56.48

10,675

71,681,000

14.89

56,029

150,234,000

37.29

1983

42,812

80,894,000

52.92

10,958

73,495,000

14.91

54,656

154,389,000

35.40

1984

44,723

80,977,000

55.23

11,907

74,447,000

15.99

57,512

155,424,000

37.00

1985

44,846

81,592,000

54.96

12,142

75,276,000

16.13

57,883

156,868,000

36.90

1986

46,653

82,792,000

56.35

12,744

76,694,000

16.62

60,335

159,486,000

37.83

1987

46,884

83,987,000

55.82

13,614

77,829,000

17.49

61,442

161,816,000

37.97

1988

47,402

84,150,000

56.33

13,951

78,704,000

17.73

62,253

162,854,000

38.23

1989

45,448

85,377,000

53.23

14,054

80,177,000

17.53

60,435

165,554,000

36.50

1990

44,281

85,792,000

51.61

13,726

81,223,000

16.90

58,893

167,015,000

35.26

1991

40,731

86,665,000

47.00

12,825

82,330,000

15.58

54,391

168,995,000

32.18

1992

38,598

88,387,000

43.67

12,596

84,738,000

14.86

51,901

173,125,000

29.98

1993

39,556

87,993,000

44.95

13,082

85,156,000

15.36

53,401

173,149,000

30.84

1994

40,233

89,194,000

45.11

13,567

86,210,000

15.74

54,549

175,403,000

31.10

1995

41,235

89,214,367

46.22

14,184

87,414,115

16.23

56,164

176,628,482

31.80

1996

41,376

90,518,656

45.71

14,850

89,020,684

16.68

57,001

179,539,340

31.75

1997

40,954

91,905,105

44.56

14,954

90,804,099

16.47

56,688

182,709,204

31.03

1998

40,816

93,040,202

43.87

15,089

91,820,767

16.43

56,604

184,860,969

30.62

1999

41,012

94,166,321

43.55

14,835

93,004,099

15.95

56,502

187,170,420

30.19

2000

41,795

95,796,069

43.63

14,790

94,828,953

15.60

57,280

190,625,023

30.05

2001

41,901

95,792,245

43.74

14,919

95,483,474

15.62

57,586

191,275,719

30.11

2002

42,377

97,610,009

43.41

14,999

96,992,193

15.46

58,113

194,602,202

29.86

2003

42,586

98,228,365

43.35

15,211

97,937,302

15.53

58,517

196,165,667

29.83

2004

42,250

99,571,391

42.43

15,384

99,317,521

15.49

58,395

198,888,912

29.36

2005

43,282

100,252,145

43.17

15,059

100,296,827

15.01

59,220

200,548,972

29.53

2006

42,223

101,116,282

41.76

14,753

101,694,156

14.51

57,846

202,810,438

28.52

2007

41,053

102,464,936

40.07

14,184

103,276,909

13.73

56,019

205,741,845

27.23

2008

37,061

103,618,162

35.77

12,627

104,702,439

12.06

50,416

208,320,601

24.20

2009

32,882

104,261,813

31.54

11,864

105,356,573

11.26

45,337

209,618,386

21.63

2010

32,079

104,374,496

30.73

11,859

105,740,443

11.22

44,599

210,114,939

21.23

2011

31,918

104,899,893

30.43

11,265

106,974,756

10.53

43,840

211,874,649

20.69

2012

33,351

104,985,117

31.77

11,604

106,829,713

10.86

45,664

211,814,830

21.56

2013

32,608

105,007,670

31.05

11,429

107,152,058

10.67

44,803

212,159,728

21.12

2014

32,630

105,907,684

30.81

11,293

108,184,788

10.44

44,671

214,092,472

20.87

2015

35,850

107,649,686

33.30

12,382

110,434,779

11.21

49,163

218,084,465

22.54

2016

37,941

109,587,219

34.62

13,376

112,124,699

11.93

52,399

221,711,918

23.63

2017

38,028

111,401,056

34.14

13,673

113,945,201

12.00

52,752

225,346,257

23.41

2018

37,406

112,479,825

33.26

13,379

115,078,560

11.63

51,905

227,558,385

22.81

2019

37,196

112,961,761

32.93

13,000

115,953,759

11.21

51,302

228,915,520

22.41

2020

39,594

112,595,057

35.16

13,111

115,600,745

11.34

54,165

228,195,802

23.74

2021

44,036

115,215,219

38.22

15,130

117,566,578

12.87

60,904

232,781,797

26.16

Source: Licensed Drivers—FHWA

*Includes drivers of unknown sex.

Notes: Some States include restricted driver licenses and graduated driver licenses in their licensed driver counts. Licensed drivers may

include drivers under 15, because individual age data are not available for those under 16.

1. Trends

22

Table 5. Drivers Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per Licensed Driver, by Sex

and Crash Severity, 1975-2021 (Continued)

Year

Sex

Total Male Female

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Drivers in Injury Crashes

1988

2,443,929

84,150,000

2,904

1,494,115

78,704,000

1,898

3,938,044

162,854,000

2,418

1989

2,361,116

85,377,000

2,766

1,451,637

80,177,000

1,811

3,812,753

165,554,000

2,303

1990

2,299,781

85,792,000

2,681

1,463,294

81,223,000

1,802

3,763,075

167,015,000

2,253

1991

2,185,035

86,665,000

2,521

1,386,733

82,330,000

1,684

3,571,769

168,995,000

2,114

1992

2,125,994

88,387,000

2,405

1,446,570

84,738,000

1,707

3,572,563

173,125,000

2,064

1993

2,163,313

87,993,000

2,459

1,476,209

85,156,000

1,734

3,639,522

173,149,000

2,102

1994

2,276,186

89,194,000

2,552

1,580,905

86,210,000

1,834

3,857,091

175,403,000

2,199

1995

2,390,345

89,214,367

2,679

1,695,265

87,414,115

1,939

4,085,610

176,628,482

2,313

1996

2,390,306

90,518,656

2,641

1,721,196

89,020,684

1,933

4,111,502

179,539,340

2,290

1997

2,307,805

91,905,105

2,511

1,650,100

90,804,099

1,817

3,957,906

182,709,204

2,166

1998

2,168,679

93,040,202

2,331

1,582,754

91,820,767

1,724

3,751,433

184,860,969

2,029

1999

2,149,752

94,166,321

2,283

1,617,632

93,004,099

1,739

3,767,384

187,170,420

2,013

2000

2,200,227

95,796,069

2,297

1,576,933

94,828,953

1,663

3,777,160

190,625,023

1,981

2001

2,103,874

95,792,245

2,196

1,554,117

95,483,474

1,628

3,657,991

191,275,719

1,912

2002

2,022,375

97,610,009

2,072

1,488,510

96,992,193

1,535

3,510,885

194,602,202

1,804

2003

1,998,931

98,228,365

2,035

1,530,821

97,937,302

1,563

3,529,753

196,165,667

1,799

2004

1,920,355

99,571,391

1,929

1,487,779

99,317,521

1,498

3,408,134

198,888,912

1,714

2005

1,849,874

100,252,145

1,845

1,431,646

100,296,827

1,427

3,281,520

200,548,972

1,636

2006

1,780,412

101,116,282

1,761

1,395,653

101,694,156

1,372

3,176,066

202,810,438

1,566

2007

1,718,661

102,464,936

1,677

1,338,596

103,276,909

1,296

3,057,257

205,741,845

1,486

2008

1,609,058

103,618,162

1,553

1,280,485

104,702,439

1,223

2,889,542

208,320,601

1,387

2009

1,499,561

104,261,813

1,438

1,224,613

105,356,573

1,162

2,724,173

209,618,386

1,300

2010

1,516,323

104,374,496

1,453

1,265,053

105,740,443

1,196

2,781,377

210,114,939

1,324

2011

1,506,566

104,899,893

1,436

1,243,895

106,974,756

1,163

2,750,461

211,874,649

1,298

2012

1,634,884

104,985,117

1,557

1,314,534

106,829,713

1,230

2,949,419

211,814,830

1,392

2013

1,584,385

105,007,670

1,509

1,330,703

107,152,058

1,242

2,915,088

212,159,728

1,374

2014

1,659,476

105,907,684

1,567

1,351,171

108,184,788

1,249

3,010,648

214,092,472

1,406

2015

1,746,936

107,649,686

1,623

1,423,809

110,434,779

1,289

3,170,745

218,084,465

1,454

2016

2,132,182

109,587,219

1,946

1,743,694

112,124,699

1,555

3,875,876

221,711,918

1,748

2017

1,930,570

111,401,056

1,733

1,565,831

113,945,201

1,374

3,496,402

225,346,257

1,552

2018

1,933,093

112,479,825

1,719

1,548,752

115,078,560

1,346

3,481,844

227,558,385

1,530

2019

1,985,748

112,961,761

1,758

1,563,264

115,953,759

1,348

3,549,012

228,915,520

1,550

2020

1,646,716

112,595,057

1,463

1,194,171

115,600,745

1,033

2,840,887

228,195,802

1,245

2021

1,816,518

115,215,219

1,577

1,344,159

117,566,578

1,143

3,160,677

232,781,797

1,358

Source: Licensed Drivers—FHWA

Notes: Some States include restricted driver licenses and graduated driver licenses in their licensed driver counts. Estimates for drivers

involved in injury and property-damage-only crashes from 1988-2015 and 2016 and later are not comparable because NASS GES and

CRSS have different sample designs. For more details, see page 5 of this report. Licensed drivers may include drivers under 15, because

individual age data are not available for those under 16.

1. Trends

23

Table 5. Drivers Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per Licensed Driver, by Sex

and Crash Severity, 1975-2021 (Continued)

Year

Sex

Total Male Female

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Number

Involved in

Crashes

Licensed

Drivers

Involvement

Rate per

100,000

Licensed

Drivers

Drivers in Property-Damage-Only Crashes

1988

5,037,817

84,150,000

5,987

2,826,460

78,704,000

3,591

7,864,278

162,854,000

4,829

1989

4,926,029

85,377,000

5,770

2,694,771

80,177,000

3,361

7,620,801

165,554,000

4,603

1990

4,754,327

85,792,000

5,542

2,688,243

81,223,000

3,310

7,442,570

167,015,000

4,456

1991

4,433,701

86,665,000

5,116

2,609,840

82,330,000

3,170

7,043,541

168,995,000

4,168

1992

4,331,666

88,387,000

4,901

2,539,281

84,738,000

2,997

6,870,947

173,125,000

3,969

1993

4,429,731

87,993,000

5,034

2,581,163

85,156,000

3,031

7,010,895

173,149,000

4,049

1994

4,711,549

89,194,000

5,282

2,836,707

86,210,000

3,290

7,548,255

175,403,000

4,303

1995

4,888,163

89,214,367

5,479

2,922,081

87,414,115

3,343

7,810,244

176,628,482

4,422

1996

4,908,177

90,518,656

5,422

2,979,585

89,020,684

3,347

7,887,762

179,539,340

4,393

1997

4,825,853

91,905,105

5,251

2,976,456

90,804,099

3,278

7,802,309

182,709,204

4,270

1998

4,647,499

93,040,202

4,995

2,912,226

91,820,767

3,172

7,559,725

184,860,969

4,089

1999

4,550,405

94,166,321

4,832

2,819,411

93,004,099

3,031

7,369,816

187,170,420

3,937

2000

4,573,480

95,796,069

4,774

2,914,402

94,828,953

3,073

7,487,882

190,625,023

3,928

2001

4,539,479

95,792,245

4,739

2,917,870

95,483,474

3,056

7,457,350

191,275,719

3,899

2002

4,539,100

97,610,009

4,650

3,038,019

96,992,193

3,132

7,577,119

194,602,202

3,894

2003

4,540,831

98,228,365

4,623

3,026,397

97,937,302

3,090

7,567,228

196,165,667

3,858

2004

4,418,147

99,571,391

4,437

3,048,966

99,317,521

3,070

7,467,113

198,888,912

3,754

2005

4,448,934

100,252,145

4,438

3,042,729

100,296,827

3,034

7,491,663

200,548,972

3,736

2006

4,321,276

101,116,282

4,274

3,003,348

101,694,156

2,953

7,324,624

202,810,438

3,612

2007

4,345,252

102,464,936

4,241

3,065,666

103,276,909

2,968

7,410,919

205,741,845

3,602

2008

4,173,812

103,618,162

4,028

2,967,421

104,702,439

2,834

7,141,233

208,320,601

3,428

2009

3,913,473

104,261,813

3,754

2,931,260

105,356,573

2,782

6,844,733

209,618,386

3,265

2010

3,854,175

104,374,496

3,693

2,862,460

105,740,443

2,707

6,716,635

210,114,939

3,197

2011

3,674,834

104,899,893

3,503

2,920,843

106,974,756

2,730

6,595,677

211,874,649

3,113

2012

3,880,163

104,985,117

3,696

3,006,762

106,829,713

2,815

6,886,925

211,814,830

3,251

2013

3,990,473

105,007,670

3,800

3,092,383

107,152,058

2,886

7,082,856

212,159,728

3,338

2014

4,383,009

105,907,684

4,139

3,334,784

108,184,788

3,082

7,717,793

214,092,472

3,605

2015

4,607,504

107,649,686

4,280

3,424,586

110,434,779

3,101

8,032,090

218,084,465

3,683

2016

4,627,656

109,587,219

4,223

3,517,731

112,124,699

3,137

8,145,386

221,711,918

3,674

2017

4,523,758

111,401,056

4,061

3,449,884

113,945,201

3,028

7,973,642

225,346,257

3,538

2018

4,853,366

112,479,825

4,315

3,638,194

115,078,560

3,161

8,491,561

227,558,385

3,732

2019

4,877,680

112,961,761

4,318

3,641,617

115,953,759

3,141

8,519,297

228,915,520

3,722

2020

3,709,088

112,595,057

3,294

2,521,591

115,600,745

2,181

6,230,679

228,195,802

2,730

2021

4,463,098

115,215,219

3,874

3,136,348

117,566,578

2,668

7,599,446

232,781,797

3,265

Source: Licensed Drivers—FHWA

Notes: Some States include restricted driver licenses and graduated driver licenses in their licensed driver counts. Estimates for drivers

involved in injury and property-damage-only crashes from 1988-2015 and 2016 and later are not comparable because NASS GES and

CRSS have different sample designs. For more details, see page 5 of this report. Licensed drivers may include drivers under 15, because

individual age data are not available for those under 16.

1. Trends

24

Figure 3. Driver Involvement Rates per 100,000 Licensed Drivers, by Sex and Crash

Severity, 1975-2021

Source: Licensed Drivers—FHWA

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Fatal Crashes

Male Female

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

1988 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Injury Crashes

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

1988 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Property-Damage-Only Crashes

1. Trends

25

Table 6. Motor Vehicle Occupant and Motorcyclist Fatality and Injury Rates per

Population, by Age Group, 1975-2021

Year

Age Group

Total <5 5-9 10-14 15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 >74

Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population

1975

4.50

2.71

4.09

34.36

34.55

21.46

15.62

13.41

13.29

14.72

16.98

16.63

1976

4.50

2.56

4.44

36.25

34.69

21.17

15.22

13.71

13.58

14.92

17.26

17.02

1977

4.68

2.83

4.54

38.11

38.40

22.17

15.57

13.90

13.55

14.03

16.13

17.78

1978

4.61

2.66

4.70

39.50

40.39

24.15

16.67

14.07

13.44

14.79

16.36

18.66

1979

4.35

2.84

4.22

39.37

39.71

24.85

17.07

14.02

13.24

13.59

15.51

18.63

1980

4.24

2.67

4.13

38.48

39.86

24.82

16.85

14.51

12.83

12.96

15.27

18.45

1981

3.75

2.43

3.76

34.61

37.41

24.22

16.63

13.81

12.68

13.16

14.94

17.62

1982

3.67

2.22

3.65

30.92

32.75

20.45

14.30

11.84

11.24

11.85

14.89

15.39

1983

3.55

2.33

3.32

29.80

30.97

19.86

13.87

11.79

10.92

11.92

15.48

14.90

1984

3.13

2.33

3.72

31.36

32.89

20.26

13.91

11.86

11.16

12.98

16.18

15.39

1985

3.18

2.36

4.15

30.11

32.75

19.50

13.87

11.88

11.33

12.63

16.73

15.15

1986

3.42

2.30

4.21

34.10

33.72

21.04

13.82

11.50

11.38

13.46

17.71

15.92

1987

3.78

2.60

4.11

33.23

32.83

21.05

14.15

12.10

11.93

13.58

18.22

15.92

1988

3.82

2.64

4.30

34.20

33.63

20.50

14.20

12.33

12.15

14.12

19.26

16.02

1989

3.93

2.92

4.02

31.50

30.85

20.10

13.89

12.46

12.18

14.24

19.41

15.43

1990

3.30

2.50

3.73

30.91

30.62

19.81

13.34

12.20

11.91

13.36

18.48

14.89

1991

3.13

2.39

3.54

28.69

28.83

17.79

12.29

11.12

10.75

13.22

19.14

13.78

1992

2.99

2.41

3.36

25.67

25.96

16.54

11.71

10.62

10.53

13.27

18.81

12.89

1993

3.14

2.35

3.34

26.10

26.70

16.47

11.86

10.52

10.86

12.73

20.78

13.02

1994

3.46

2.35

3.70

27.35

26.27

16.07

11.79

11.15

10.71

13.99

20.71

13.18

1995

3.17

2.46

3.81

26.48

27.30

17.03

12.49

11.01

11.42

13.67

20.87

13.43

1996

3.40

2.34

3.72

26.43

27.31

16.78

12.60

11.14

11.58

14.20

20.84

13.46

1997

3.16

2.42

3.73

25.42

25.53

16.49

12.23

11.57

11.96

14.46

22.09

13.34

1998

3.03

2.60

3.55

24.64

25.06

15.81

12.60

11.44

11.53

14.31

21.28

13.09

1999

2.94

2.54

3.40

25.19

25.56

16.13

12.62

11.48

11.52

14.17

20.70

13.16

2000

2.82

2.38

3.15

24.79

25.29

15.55

12.81

11.51

11.38

12.88

19.51

12.88

2001

2.68

2.27

2.92

24.50

24.94

15.67

12.93

11.35

11.01

12.76

19.35

12.79

2002

2.44

2.13

3.06

25.60

25.88

15.75

13.03

11.85

11.10

12.61

18.81

12.99

2003

2.48

2.14

3.23

24.16

24.87

15.54

13.07

12.02

11.24

12.45

19.27

12.87

2004

2.57

2.28

3.26

23.75

24.94

15.82

12.48

12.07

11.05

12.30

18.16

12.74

2005

2.35

2.24

2.64

22.19

25.71

16.33

12.92

11.99

11.60

12.46

17.29

12.74

2006

2.32

1.85

2.45

21.69

26.07

16.37

12.68

11.80

10.95

11.31

15.73

12.39

2007

1.98

1.78

2.46

20.16

25.02

15.40

12.20

11.52

10.58

10.93

15.41

11.85

2008

1.50

1.44

1.83

16.52

21.56

14.28

11.03

10.54

9.82

10.02

14.16

10.56

2009

1.62

1.40

1.76

14.46

17.62

12.45

9.90

9.89

8.78

9.18

13.42

9.45

2010

1.48

1.26

1.54

12.34

17.60

11.84

9.46

9.15

8.88

8.95

14.01

9.02

2011

1.38

1.22

1.43

12.37

16.67

11.50

9.05

8.97

8.36

9.11

12.62

8.71

2012

1.54

1.17

1.33

11.72

16.94

12.19

9.54

9.27

8.87

9.12

12.17

8.92

2013

1.44

1.19

1.48

10.88

16.08

11.65

9.09

8.87

8.63

8.81

12.46

8.60

2014

1.24

1.23

1.34

10.99

15.90

11.53

8.70

9.00

8.40

8.23

12.17

8.45

2015

1.42

1.29

1.37

11.63

16.74

12.40

9.41

9.46

8.96

9.10

12.64

9.02

2016

1.54

1.42

1.53

11.80

17.72

13.23

10.08

9.60

9.44

9.39

13.38

9.48

2017

1.55

1.22

1.44

11.49

16.81

12.79

10.16

9.74

9.61

8.66

13.76

9.34

2018

1.38

1.25

1.31

10.57

16.06

12.48

9.60

9.47

9.46

8.94

12.52

8.99

2019

1.25

1.27

1.46

10.04

15.15

11.83

9.74

9.31

9.25

8.87

12.91

8.81

2020

1.25

1.21

1.68

11.63

17.32

14.25

10.75

9.72

9.47

8.24

11.23

9.42

2021

1.53

1.49

1.68

12.52

17.79

15.38

12.03

11.07

10.17

8.98

12.81

10.33

Source: Population—Census Bureau

Note: Population estimates for historical years are revised periodically.

1. Trends

26

Table 6. Motor Vehicle Occupant and Motorcyclist Fatality and Injury Rates per

Population, by Age Group, 1975-2021 (Continued)

Year

Age Group

Total <5 5-9 10-14 15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 >74

Injury Rate per 100,000 Population

1988

418

447

612

3,002

2,674

1,807

1,312

1,036

878

709

659

1,323

1989

373

471

580

2,969

2,468

1,675

1,285

987

801

712

613

1,254

1990

334

432

583

2,828

2,512

1,681

1,230

992

847

748

517

1,226

1991

388

470

602

2,681

2,331

1,579

1,147

981

797

726

523

1,166

1992

327

435

557

2,735

2,265

1,575

1,104

974

785

725

587

1,144

1993

373

475

540

2,632

2,320

1,611

1,199

957

825

710

595

1,161

1994

412

470

577

2,703

2,376

1,673

1,225

990

857

755

600

1,195

1995

420

486

628

2,880

2,465

1,728

1,295

1,134

928

756

625

1,261

1996

421

528

627

2,821

2,440

1,762

1,291

1,073

906

789

657

1,255

1997

403

467

576

2,689

2,412

1,695

1,261

1,014

823

762

641

1,200

1998

405

441

569

2,529

2,131

1,590

1,157

1,031

872

698

589

1,135

1999

389

479

534

2,596

2,181

1,603

1,138

1,029

802

762

616

1,140

2000

352

406

473

2,403

2,100

1,453

1,160

948

828

720

668

1,084

2001

313

373

449

2,193

2,028

1,393

1,098

935

755

671

581

1,021

2002

305

383

439

2,138

1,911

1,323

1,037

877

766

618

552

978

2003

307

379

411

2,018

1,862

1,341

1,026

876

731

609

524

957

2004

288

354

418

1,899

1,721

1,218

1,012

879

727

601

498

916

2005

269

324

415

1,760

1,724

1,228

954

833

683

541

467

877

2006

271

288

353

1,637

1,588

1,159

925

764

662

556

491

828

2007

268

290

306

1,537

1,529

1,136

843

753

628

550

432

788

2008

244

267

321

1,375

1,396

1,041

800

721

600

491

405

732

2009

220

263

287

1,213

1,382

967

736

697

566

504

398

687

2010

192

252

278

1,191

1,338

939

807

706

571

463

419

685

2011

232

245

273

1,128

1,260

961

789

692

585

459

387

674

2012

196

267

256

1,161

1,356

1,023

828

742

620

515

424

712

2013

230

264

271

1,107

1,347

976

778

720

627

504

439

694

2014

229

241

280

1,061

1,275

1,009

819

761

623

493

404

696

2015

237

282

288

1,188

1,386

1,026

850

746

646

533

407

726

2016

305

342

339

1,507

1,670

1,327

1,055

948

757

591

494

896

2017

263

304

293

1,337

1,471

1,164

949

845

703

577

468

803

2018

243

296

320

1,188

1,475

1,158

951

852

709

560

425

787

2019

223

293

308

1,249

1,413

1,157

964

877

721

547

443

792

2020

187

201

233

1,113

1,294

1,028

756

681

563

435

366

656

2021

232

236

274

1,196

1,374

1,080

871

732

616

472

424

717

Source: Population—Census Bureau

Notes: Population estimates for historical years are revised periodically. Estimates for people injured from 1988-2015 and 2016 and later

are not comparable because NASS GES and CRSS have different sample designs. For more details, see page 5 of this report.

1. Trends

27

Table 7. Passenger Car Occupants Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per

Registered Vehicle and VMT, 1975-2021

Year

Registered

Passenger

Cars

Passenger Car

VMT (millions)

Passenger Car

Occupants

Killed

Fatality Rate

per 100,000

Registered

Passenger

Cars

Fatality Rate

per 100 Million

Passenger Car

VMT

Passenger Car

Occupants

Injured

Injury Rate

per 100,000

Registered

Passenger

Cars

Injury Rate

per 100 Million

Passenger Car

VMT

1975

94,478,029

1,030,376

25,929

27.44

2.52

*

1976

97,011,684

1,070,667

26,166

26.97

2.44

*

1977

98,967,665

1,102,726

26,782

27.06

2.43

*

1978

101,855,551

1,136,459

28,153

27.64

2.48

*

1979

103,543,788

1,111,705

27,808

26.86

2.50

*

1980

104,770,998

1,107,056

27,449

26.20

2.48

*

1981

106,002,720

1,122,092

26,645

25.14

2.37

*

1982

106,936,590

1,145,828

23,330

21.82

2.04

*

1983

109,085,444

1,187,760

22,979

21.07

1.93

*

1984

112,177,361

1,226,461

23,620

21.06

1.93

*

1985

116,348,085

1,248,980

23,212

19.95

1.86

*

1986

117,268,114

1,277,550

24,944

21.27

1.95

*

1987

119,848,784

1,328,460

25,132

20.97

1.89

*

1988

121,519,139

1,384,047

25,808

21.24

1.86

2,589,729

2,131

187

1989

122,758,478

1,415,213

25,063

20.42

1.77

2,432,460

1,982

172

1990

123,276,600

1,427,178

24,092

19.54

1.69

2,384,199

1,934

167

1991

123,327,336

1,411,655

22,385

18.15

1.59

2,239,505

1,816

159

1992

120,346,747

1,436,035

21,387

17.77

1.49

2,235,970

1,858

156

1993

121,055,398

1,445,106

21,566

17.81

1.49

2,272,964

1,878

157

1994

121,996,580

1,459,208

21,997

18.03

1.51

2,368,302

1,941

162

1995

123,241,881

1,478,352

22,423

18.19

1.52

2,474,585

2,008

167

1996

124,612,787

1,499,139

22,505

18.06

1.50

2,453,195

1,969

164

1997

124,672,920

1,528,399

22,199

17.81

1.45

2,345,425

1,881

153

1998

125,965,709

1,555,901

21,194

16.83

1.36

2,205,226

1,751

142

1999

127,083,019

1,569,455

20,862

16.42

1.33

2,143,002

1,686

137

2000

127,933,707

1,583,127

20,699

16.18

1.31

2,057,089

1,608

130

2001

129,044,240

1,596,579

20,320

15.75

1.27

1,929,996

1,496

121

2002

130,349,393

1,613,749

20,569

15.78

1.27

1,810,510

1,389

112

2003

131,665,783

1,613,543

19,725

14.98

1.22

1,762,001

1,338

109

2004

133,414,552

1,629,955

19,192

14.39

1.18

1,649,483

1,236

101

2005

135,324,121

1,616,908

18,512

13.68

1.14

1,579,857

1,167

98

2006

137,031,279

1,616,328

17,925

13.08

1.11

1,478,909

1,079

91

2007

137,929,951

1,554,673

16,614

12.05

1.07

1,382,640

1,002

89

2008

139,028,041

1,524,331

14,646

10.53

0.96

1,307,512

940

86

2009

137,203,972

1,510,339

13,135

9.57

0.87

1,219,183

889

81

2010

135,310,480

1,507,716

12,491

9.23

0.83

1,256,101

928

83

2011

126,966,714

1,369,810

12,014

9.46

0.88

1,243,706

980

91

2012

127,077,676

1,377,486

12,361

9.73

0.90

1,330,250

1,047

97

2013

128,936,225

1,384,194

12,037

9.34

0.87

1,298,569

1,007

94

2014

131,138,925

1,396,098

11,947

9.11

0.86

1,294,030

987

93

2015

133,218,366

1,420,869

12,763

9.58

0.90

1,382,271

1,038

97

2016

134,827,696

1,439,678

13,508

10.02

0.94

1,690,359

1,254

117

2017

132,864,363

1,424,056

13,477

10.14

0.95

1,528,666

1,151

107

2018

132,837,515

1,403,760

12,888

9.70

0.92

1,510,852

1,137

108

2019

129,838,156

1,372,622

12,355

9.52

0.90

1,498,083

1,154

109

2020

110,612,958

1,035,519

12,628

11.42

1.22

1,022,587

924

99

2021

107,934,093

1,074,905

13,529

12.53

1.26

1,108,721

1,027

103

Co.

*Injury data not available before 1988.

Notes: In 2011 the FHWA implemented an enhanced methodology for estimating registered vehicles and VMT by vehicle type. These

revisions were applied to data from 2007 and later. In some cases, the changes were significant and should be considered when comparing

registered vehicle counts and/or VMT for 2006 and earlier years with the numbers for 2007 and later years. Due to an enhancement in the

for those years changed considerably from the counts provided for 2010 and earlier years. This should be considered when comparing

registration numbers and rates per registered vehicles for passenger cars for 2010 and earlier years with those for 2011 and later years. For

more details, see pages 6-7 of this report. Estimates for people injured from 1988-2015 and 2016 and later are not comparable because

NASS GES and CRSS have different sample designs. For more details, see page 5 of this report. The methodology for vehicle type

classifications changed in 2020. For more details, see pages 5-6 of this report.

1. Trends

28

Figure 4. Passenger Car Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million VMT, 1975-

2021

Sources: VMT—FHWA, revised by NHTSA

Note: The methodology for vehicle type classifications changed in 2020. For more details, see pages 5-6 of this report.

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Fatality Rate per 100 Million VMT

0

50

100

150

200

1988 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2021

Injury Rate per 100 Million VMT

1. Trends

29

Table 8. Light-Truck Occupants Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per

Registered Vehicle and VMT, 1975-2021

Year

Registered

Light Trucks

Light-Truck

VMT (millions)

Light-Truck

Occupants

Killed

Fatality Rate

per 100,000

Registered

Light Trucks

Fatality Rate

per

100 Million

Light-Truck

VMT

Light-Truck

Occupants

Injured

Injury Rate

per 100,000

Registered

Light Trucks

Injury Rate

per 100 Million

Light-Truck

VMT

1975

20,886,680

204,274

4,856

23.25

2.38

*

1976

22,794,702

233,382

5,438

23.86

2.33

*

1977

24,432,701

257,108

5,976

24.46

2.32

*

1978

27,285,497

289,463

6,745

24.72

2.33

*

1979

28,932,820

293,840

7,178

24.81

2.44

*

1980

30,060,754

295,475

7,486

24.90

2.53

*

1981

31,236,287

307,583

7,081

22.67

2.30

*

1982

32,307,692

322,026

6,359

19.68

1.97

*

1983

33,068,138

334,937

6,202

18.76

1.85

*

1984

35,257,788

358,588

6,496

18.42

1.81

*

1985

37,665,180

388,779

6,689

17.76

1.72

*

1986

39,763,446

416,532

7,317

18.40

1.76

*

1987

41,695,017

444,392

8,058

19.33

1.81

*

1988

44,599,500

488,431

8,306

18.62

1.70

482,033

1,081

99

1989

47,134,148

522,483

8,551

18.14

1.64

516,898

1,097

99

1990

49,916,497

555,659

8,601

17.23

1.55

510,956

1,024

92

1991

52,062,064

595,924

8,391

16.12

1.41

565,376

1,086

95

1992

53,836,046

642,397

8,098

15.04

1.26

549,417

1,021

86

1993

56,573,835

675,353

8,511

15.04

1.26

605,501

1,070

90

1994

59,485,995

711,515

8,904

14.97

1.25

634,089

1,066

89

1995

62,520,872

749,971

9,568

15.30

1.28

727,054

1,163

97

1996

65,438,877

787,255

9,932

15.18

1.26

762,572

1,165

97

1997

67,287,470

824,896

10,249

15.23

1.24

761,511

1,132

92

1998

69,783,500

861,951

10,705

15.34

1.24

765,412

1,097

89

1999

72,929,502

900,667

11,265

15.45

1.25

853,022

1,170

95

2000

75,979,775

940,219

11,526

15.17

1.23

886,198

1,166

94

2001

78,675,630

973,401

11,723

14.90

1.20

865,888

1,101

89

2002

81,643,269

1,010,759

12,274

15.03

1.21

885,373

1,084

88

2003

85,063,823

1,042,444

12,546

14.75

1.20

895,774

1,053

86

2004

89,799,406

1,097,099

12,674

14.11

1.16

905,696

1,009

83

2005

94,787,880

1,132,564

13,037

13.75

1.15

874,137

922

77

2006

98,064,117

1,156,697

12,761

13.01

1.10

859,687

877

74

2007

100,817,496

1,136,361

12,458

12.36

1.10

844,990

838

74

2008

100,862,944

1,105,882

10,816

10.72

0.98

773,276

767

70

2009

102,008,600

1,122,909

10,312

10.11

0.92

762,172

747

68

2010

102,376,147

1,140,740

9,782

9.55

0.86

737,152

720

65

2011

118,702,389

1,280,648

9,302

7.84

0.73

732,764

617

57

2012

118,690,690

1,286,574

9,418

7.93

0.73

766,295

646

60

2013

120,491,485

1,293,536

9,186

7.62

0.71

752,585

625

58

2014

123,470,278

1,314,458

9,103

7.37

0.69

783,906

635

60

2015

127,401,053

1,358,824

9,878

7.75

0.73

808,707

635

60

2016

132,052,102

1,410,040

10,279

7.78

0.73

1,034,963

784

73

2017

135,594,973

1,453,322

10,186

7.51

0.70

937,147

691

64

2018

141,312,896

1,493,323

9,957

7.05

0.67

921,272

652

62

2019

146,751,968

1,551,431

10,017

6.83

0.65

949,902

647

61

2020

164,230,764

1,537,469

11,286

6.87

0.73

884,424

539

58

2021

170,108,546

1,694,094

12,796

7.52

0.76

983,820

578