Fatality Facts 2007

General

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Overview | Age and gender | Speeding | When they died

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among Americans 3-34 years old.¹ According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the total societal cost of these crashes exceeds $200 billion annually.² Contributing to the death toll are alcohol, speed, lack of safety belt use, and other problematic driver behaviors. Death rates vary by vehicle type, driver age and gender, and other factors.

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

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

Overview

A total of 41,059 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2007. This is 8 percent fewer than in 1975 but 5 percent more than the lowest point in 1992. These deaths occurred in 37,248 crashes involving 55,926 motor vehicles. Since 1992, the number of fatalities has fluctuated within a fairly narrow range, from about 39,000 to over 43,000, but deaths in 2007 were the lowest in thirteen years.

Number of deaths, crashes, and motor vehicles in fatal crashes, 1975-2007
Year	Deaths	Crashes	Motor vehicles
1975	44,525	39,161	55,534
1976	45,523	39,747	56,084
1977	47,878	42,211	60,516
1978	50,331	44,433	64,144
1979	51,093	45,223	64,762
1980	51,091	45,284	63,484
1981	49,301	44,000	62,698
1982	43,945	39,092	56,449
1983	42,589	37,976	55,103
1984	44,257	39,631	57,970
1985	43,825	39,196	58,271
1986	46,087	41,090	60,792
1987	46,390	41,438	61,836
1988	47,087	42,130	62,702
1989	45,582	40,741	60,870
1990	44,599	39,836	59,292
1991	41,508	36,937	54,794
1992	39,250	34,942	52,227
1993	40,150	35,780	53,777
1994	40,716	36,254	54,906
1995	41,817	37,241	56,524
1996	42,065	37,494	57,347
1997	42,013	37,324	57,037
1998	41,501	37,107	56,920
1999	41,717	37,140	56,820
2000	41,945	37,526	57,594
2001	42,196	37,862	57,918
2002	43,005	38,491	58,426
2003	42,884	38,477	58,877
2004	42,836	38,444	58,729
2005	43,510	39,252	59,495
2006	42,708	38,648	58,094
2007	41,059	37,248	55,926

Although the U.S. population has been growing steadily since 1975, the rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population has declined by 34 percent. During the past decade, the death rate increased for motorcyclists, but decreased for occupants of passenger vehicles (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans) and pedestrians, and was essentially unchanged for bicyclists and occupants of large trucks.

Motor vehicle crash deaths and deaths per 100,000 people, 1975-2007

 

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by type, 1975-2007
Year	Population	Passenger vehicle occupants		Pedestrians		Motorcyclists		Bicyclists		Large truck occupants		All motor vehicle deaths*
		Num	Rate	Num	Rate	Num	Rate	Num	Rate	Num	Rate	Num	Rate
1975	215,973,199	30,601	14.2	7,516	3.5	3,106	1.4	1,003	0.5	916	0.4	44,525	20.6
1976	218,035,164	31,724	14.5	7,427	3.4	3,232	1.5	914	0.4	1,100	0.5	45,523	20.9
1977	220,239,425	32,823	14.9	7,732	3.5	4,004	1.8	922	0.4	1,229	0.6	47,878	21.7
1978	222,584,545	34,923	15.7	7,795	3.5	4,448	2.0	892	0.4	1,315	0.6	50,331	22.6
1979	225,055,487	35,026	15.6	8,096	3.6	4,712	2.1	932	0.4	1,372	0.6	51,093	22.7
1980	227,224,719	34,995	15.4	8,070	3.6	4,955	2.2	965	0.4	1,183	0.5	51,091	22.5
1981	229,465,608	33,711	14.7	7,837	3.4	4,737	2.1	936	0.4	1,082	0.5	49,301	21.5
1982	231,664,496	29,654	12.8	7,331	3.2	4,267	1.8	864	0.4	917	0.4	43,945	19.0
1983	233,791,903	29,153	12.5	6,826	2.9	4,099	1.8	830	0.4	960	0.4	42,589	18.2
1984	235,824,783	30,091	12.8	7,025	3.0	4,425	1.9	838	0.4	1,040	0.4	44,257	18.8
1985	237,923,732	29,847	12.5	6,808	2.9	4,415	1.9	869	0.4	941	0.4	43,825	18.4
1986	240,132,841	32,224	13.4	6,779	2.8	4,309	1.8	929	0.4	892	0.4	46,087	19.2
1987	242,289,023	33,145	13.7	6,745	2.8	3,832	1.6	940	0.4	821	0.3	46,390	19.1
1988	244,498,836	34,105	13.9	6,870	2.8	3,491	1.4	901	0.4	886	0.4	47,087	19.3
1989	246,819,119	33,599	13.6	6,556	2.7	3,030	1.2	822	0.3	822	0.3	45,582	18.5
1990	249,464,396	32,711	13.1	6,482	2.6	3,128	1.3	853	0.3	684	0.3	44,599	17.9
1991	252,153,092	30,810	12.2	5,801	2.3	2,702	1.1	836	0.3	650	0.3	41,508	16.5
1992	255,029,699	29,457	11.6	5,549	2.2	2,291	0.9	717	0.3	580	0.2	39,250	15.4
1993	257,782,608	29,994	11.6	5,649	2.2	2,346	0.9	806	0.3	590	0.2	40,150	15.6
1994	260,327,021	30,816	11.8	5,489	2.1	2,215	0.9	796	0.3	658	0.3	40,716	15.6
1995	262,803,276	31,913	12.1	5,584	2.1	2,138	0.8	828	0.3	634	0.2	41,817	15.9
1996	265,228,572	32,353	12.2	5,449	2.1	2,077	0.8	761	0.3	602	0.2	42,065	15.9
1997	267,783,607	32,331	12.1	5,321	2.0	2,056	0.8	811	0.3	717	0.3	42,013	15.7
1998	270,248,003	31,779	11.8	5,228	1.9	2,227	0.8	757	0.3	739	0.3	41,501	15.4
1999	272,690,813	32,008	11.7	4,939	1.8	2,419	0.9	750	0.3	747	0.3	41,717	15.3
2000	282,192,162	32,109	11.4	4,763	1.7	2,829	1.0	689	0.2	737	0.3	41,945	14.9
2001	285,102,075	31,938	11.2	4,901	1.7	3,123	1.1	729	0.3	691	0.2	42,196	14.8
2002	287,941,220	32,724	11.4	4,851	1.7	3,187	1.1	663	0.2	675	0.2	43,005	14.9
2003	290,788,976	32,166	11.1	4,774	1.6	3,641	1.3	626	0.2	703	0.2	42,884	14.7
2004	293,655,404	31,750	10.8	4,675	1.6	3,904	1.3	722	0.2	743	0.3	42,836	14.6
2005	296,410,404	31,455	10.6	4,892	1.7	4,460	1.5	784	0.3	758	0.3	43,510	14.7
2006	299,398,484	30,628	10.2	4,795	1.6	4,699	1.6	769	0.3	774	0.3	42,708	14.3
2007	301,621,157	28,896	9.6	4,654	1.5	5,037	1.7	696	0.2	743	0.2	41,059	13.6
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Seventy percent of motor vehicle fatalities in 2007 were passenger vehicle occupants, 11 percent were pedestrians, 12 percent were motorcyclists, 2 percent were bicyclists, and 2 percent were occupants of large trucks. More motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2007 than in any year since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting FARS data in 1975. In contrast, at 28,896, fewer passenger vehicle occupants died in crashes in 2007 than in any year in this time period.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by type, 1975-2007
Year	Passenger vehicle occupants		Pedestrians		Motorcyclists		Bicyclists		Large truck occupants		Other		All motor vehicle deaths
	Num	%	Num	%	Num	%	Num	%	Num	%	Num	%	Num
1975	30,601	69	7,516	17	3,106	7	1,003	2	916	2	1,383	3	44,525
1976	31,724	70	7,427	16	3,232	7	914	2	1,100	2	1,126	2	45,523
1977	32,823	69	7,732	16	4,004	8	922	2	1,229	3	1,168	2	47,878
1978	34,923	69	7,795	15	4,448	9	892	2	1,315	3	958	2	50,331
1979	35,026	69	8,096	16	4,712	9	932	2	1,372	3	955	2	51,093
1980	34,995	68	8,070	16	4,955	10	965	2	1,183	2	923	2	51,091
1981	33,711	68	7,837	16	4,737	10	936	2	1,082	2	998	2	49,301
1982	29,654	67	7,331	17	4,267	10	864	2	917	2	912	2	43,945
1983	29,153	68	6,826	16	4,099	10	830	2	960	2	721	2	42,589
1984	30,091	68	7,025	16	4,425	10	838	2	1,040	2	838	2	44,257
1985	29,847	68	6,808	16	4,415	10	869	2	941	2	945	2	43,825
1986	32,224	70	6,779	15	4,309	9	929	2	892	2	954	2	46,087
1987	33,145	71	6,745	15	3,832	8	940	2	821	2	907	2	46,390
1988	34,105	72	6,870	15	3,491	7	901	2	886	2	834	2	47,087
1989	33,599	74	6,556	14	3,030	7	822	2	822	2	753	2	45,582
1990	32,711	73	6,482	15	3,128	7	853	2	684	2	741	2	44,599
1991	30,810	74	5,801	14	2,702	7	836	2	650	2	709	2	41,508
1992	29,457	75	5,549	14	2,291	6	717	2	580	1	656	2	39,250
1993	29,994	75	5,649	14	2,346	6	806	2	590	1	765	2	40,150
1994	30,816	76	5,489	13	2,215	5	796	2	658	2	742	2	40,716
1995	31,913	76	5,584	13	2,138	5	828	2	634	2	720	2	41,817
1996	32,353	77	5,449	13	2,077	5	761	2	602	1	823	2	42,065
1997	32,331	77	5,321	13	2,056	5	811	2	717	2	777	2	42,013
1998	31,779	77	5,228	13	2,227	5	757	2	739	2	771	2	41,501
1999	32,008	77	4,939	12	2,419	6	750	2	747	2	854	2	41,717
2000	32,109	77	4,763	11	2,829	7	689	2	737	2	818	2	41,945
2001	31,938	76	4,901	12	3,123	7	729	2	691	2	814	2	42,196
2002	32,724	76	4,851	11	3,187	7	663	2	675	2	905	2	43,005
2003	32,166	75	4,774	11	3,641	8	626	1	703	2	974	2	42,884
2004	31,750	74	4,675	11	3,904	9	722	2	743	2	1,042	2	42,836
2005	31,455	72	4,892	11	4,460	10	784	2	758	2	1,161	3	43,510
2006	30,628	72	4,795	11	4,699	11	769	2	774	2	1,043	2	42,708
2007	28,896	70	4,654	11	5,037	12	696	2	743	2	1,033	3	41,059

In 2007, the rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled reached an all-time low of 1.37. This is compared to a rate of 3.35 in 1975.³

Motor vehicle crash deaths and deaths per 100 million miles traveled, 1975-2007

 

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled, 1975-2007
Year	Deaths	Miles travelled (millions)	Rate
1975	44,525	1,330,074	3.35
1976	45,523	1,409,163	3.23
1977	47,878	1,476,567	3.24
1978	50,331	1,548,213	3.25
1979	51,093	1,529,133	3.34
1980	51,091	1,520,857	3.36
1981	49,301	1,550,271	3.18
1982	43,945	1,592,481	2.76
1983	42,589	1,649,106	2.58
1984	44,257	1,716,768	2.58
1985	43,825	1,774,762	2.47
1986	46,087	1,838,240	2.51
1987	46,390	1,924,327	2.41
1988	47,087	2,025,586	2.32
1989	45,582	2,107,040	2.16
1990	44,599	2,147,501	2.08
1991	41,508	2,172,214	1.91
1992	39,250	2,239,828	1.75
1993	40,150	2,296,585	1.75
1994	40,716	2,357,588	1.73
1995	41,817	2,422,775	1.73
1996	42,065	2,482,202	1.69
1997	42,013	2,560,373	1.64
1998	41,501	2,625,367	1.58
1999	41,717	2,691,335	1.55
2000	41,945	2,749,803	1.53
2001	42,196	2,781,462	1.52
2002	43,005	2,855,756	1.51
2003	42,884	2,890,893	1.48
2004	42,836	2,962,513	1.45
2005	43,510	2,989,807	1.46
2006	42,708	3,014,116	1.42
2007	41,059	2,996,232	1.37

Age and gender

The rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people in 2007 was especially high among 16-24 year-olds. At all ages, males had higher death rates than females. Males ages 20-24 had the highest rate of motor vehicle crash deaths.

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age and gender, 2007
Age	Male			Female			Total*
	Population	Deaths	rate	Population	Deaths	rate	Population	Deaths	rate
<13	26,897,714	684	2.5	25,688,095	580	2.3	52,585,809	1,264	2.4
13-15	6,435,793	455	7.1	6,131,343	303	4.9	12,567,136	758	6.0
16-19	8,824,724	2,803	31.8	8,384,083	1,384	16.5	17,208,807	4,188	24.3
20-24	10,852,937	4,380	40.4	10,179,459	1,299	12.8	21,032,396	5,680	27.0
25-29	10,776,189	3,000	27.8	10,281,517	931	9.1	21,057,706	3,932	18.7
30-34	9,906,361	2,178	22.0	9,626,859	686	7.1	19,533,220	2,864	14.7
35-39	10,654,911	2,278	21.4	10,521,549	744	7.1	21,176,460	3,022	14.3
40-44	10,963,823	2,208	20.1	11,021,006	852	7.7	21,984,829	3,060	13.9
45-49	11,302,842	2,379	21.0	11,558,531	882	7.6	22,861,373	3,261	14.3
50-54	10,292,071	2,095	20.4	10,721,316	774	7.2	21,013,387	2,869	13.7
55-59	8,847,222	1,721	19.5	9,389,037	663	7.1	18,236,259	2,384	13.1
60-64	6,927,866	1,178	17.0	7,547,951	539	7.1	14,475,817	1,717	11.9
65-69	5,019,063	880	17.5	5,733,378	454	7.9	10,752,441	1,334	12.4
70-74	3,867,910	793	20.5	4,731,798	475	10.0	8,599,708	1,268	14.7
75-79	3,106,968	745	24.0	4,217,914	502	11.9	7,324,882	1,247	17.0
80-84	2,205,705	613	27.8	3,492,924	458	13.1	5,698,629	1,071	18.8
≥ 85	1,776,799	554	31.2	3,735,499	458	12.3	5,512,298	1,012	18.4
Total*	148,658,898	29,039	19.5	152,962,259	12,011	7.9	301,621,157	41,059	13.6
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Speeding

In 2007, speeding was a factor in 32 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. Speeding has been a factor in about one-third of crash deaths since 1998. Speeding was defined to include crashes in which the driver was cited for speeding or in which driver-related factors coded indicated speed as a factor (driving too fast for conditions or racing).

Motor vehicle crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor, 1998-2007
	Speeding-related		Not speeding-related		Total
	Num	%	Num	%	Num
1998	12,561	30	28,940	70	41,501
1999	12,713	30	29,004	70	41,717
2000	12,552	30	29,393	70	41,945
2001	12,924	31	29,272	69	42,196
2002	13,799	32	29,206	68	43,005
2003	13,499	31	29,385	69	42,884
2004	13,291	31	29,545	69	42,836
2005	13,583	31	29,927	69	43,510
2006	13,609	32	29,099	68	42,708
2007	13,040	32	28,019	68	41,059

In 2007, the percentage of crash deaths involving speeding was higher on minor roads (38 percent) than on interstates and freeways (30 percent) or on other major roads (29 percent).

Crash deaths involving speeding as a contributing factor by road type, 2007
	Speeding-related		Not speeding-related		Total
	Num	%	Num	%	Num
Interstates and freeways	1,591	30	3,675	70	5,266
Other major roads	6,557	29	16,168	71	22,725
Minor roads	4,119	38	6,587	62	10,706
All road types*	13,040	32	28,019	68	41,059
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

When they died

Warmer weather months have higher numbers of crash deaths.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2007
Month	Deaths	%
January	3,028	7
February	2,876	7
March	3,424	8
April	3,351	8
May	3,631	9
June	3,608	9
July	3,800	9
August	3,653	9
September	3,562	9
October	3,569	9
November	3,322	8
December	3,235	8
Total	41,059	100

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

Motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2007
Day of week	Deaths	%
Sunday	6,908	17
Monday	5,251	13
Tuesday	4,699	11
Wednesday	5,082	12
Thursday	5,056	12
Friday	6,393	16
Saturday	7,670	19
Total	41,059	100

Deaths occur most often between 3pm and 9pm (31 percent), followed by 9pm to 3am (27 percent).

Motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2007
Time of day	Deaths	%
Midnight-3am	5,417	13
3am-6am	3,486	8
6am-9am	3,882	9
9am-noon	3,839	9
Noon-3pm	5,291	13
3pm-6pm	6,590	16
6pm-9pm	6,329	15
9pm-midnight	5,868	14
Total*	41,059	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

References

¹National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. 2005. WISQARS leading cause of death reports, 1999-2005. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available: http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcaus10.html.

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

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