Fatality Facts 2021: State by state (2024)

The number and types of motor vehicle crash deaths differ widely among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. A state’s population has an obvious effect on the number of motor vehicle deaths. Fatality rates per capita and per vehicle miles traveled provide a way of examining motor vehicle deaths relative to the population and amount of driving. However, many factors can affect these rates, including types of vehicles driven, travel speeds, rates of licensure, state traffic laws, emergency care capabilities, weather and topography.

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

Posted May 2023.

Fatal crash totals

There were 39,508 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2021 in which 42,939 deaths occurred. This resulted in 12.9 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.37 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The fatality rate per 100,000 people ranged from 5.7 in Rhode Island to 26.2 in Mississippi. The death rate per 100 million miles traveled ranged from 0.71 in Massachusetts to 2.08 in South Carolina.Federal Highway Administration. (2022). Highway statistics, 2021. U.S. Department of Transportation.

Population, fatal motor vehicle crashes, motor vehicle crash deaths and motor vehicle crash death rates per state, 2021
StatePopulationVehicle miles traveled (millions)Fatal crashesDeathsDeaths per 100,000 populationDeaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled
Alabama5,049,84679,56988598319.51.24
Alaska734,1825,75259679.11.16
Arizona7,264,87773,7601,0631,18016.21.60
Arkansas3,028,12238,42763169322.91.80
California39,142,991310,8233,9834,28510.91.38
Colorado5,811,29753,84063869111.91.28
Connecticut3,623,35528,9892832988.21.03
Delaware1,004,80710,15213213613.51.34
District of Columbia668,7913,24840416.11.26
Florida21,828,069217,5663,4513,73817.11.72
Georgia10,788,029120,6851,6701,79716.71.49
Hawaii1,447,1549,97294946.50.94
Idaho1,904,31419,30824427114.21.40
Illinois12,686,46997,5301,2101,33410.51.37
Indiana6,813,53278,64086393213.71.19
Iowa3,197,68933,03932935611.11.08
Kansas2,937,92231,69338142414.41.34
Kentucky4,506,58948,11173480617.91.68
Louisiana4,627,09854,72888797221.01.78
Maine1,377,23814,56013515311.11.05
Maryland6,174,61056,6015225619.10.99
Massachusetts6,989,69059,1153974176.00.71
Michigan10,037,50496,7441,0721,13611.31.17
Minnesota5,711,47157,1714514888.50.85
Mississippi2,949,58640,85369777226.21.89
Missouri6,169,82379,7919311,01616.51.27
Montana1,106,22713,48222223921.61.77
Nebraska1,963,55421,21019222111.31.04
Nevada3,146,40227,07736038512.21.42
New Hampshire1,387,50513,1301061188.50.90
New Jersey9,267,96173,6736696997.50.95
New Mexico2,116,67726,82342748122.71.79
New York19,857,492106,8701,0991,1575.81.08
North Carolina10,565,885117,7341,5351,66315.71.41
North Dakota777,9349,2568510113.01.09
Ohio11,764,342112,9231,2421,35411.51.20
Oklahoma3,991,22544,76068176219.11.70
Oregon4,256,30136,84255259914.11.63
Pennsylvania13,012,059102,6861,1531,2309.51.20
Rhode Island1,096,9857,52661635.70.84
South Carolina5,193,26657,4921,1121,19823.12.08
South Dakota896,1649,99413114816.51.48
Tennessee6,968,35182,5961,2291,32719.01.61
Texas29,558,864285,0284,0684,49815.21.58
Utah3,339,11333,6382933289.80.98
Vermont646,9726,625697411.41.12
Virginia8,657,36580,10290697311.21.21
Washington7,740,74557,7976036708.71.16
West Virginia1,785,52616,07925728015.71.74
Wisconsin5,880,10164,98357262010.50.95
Wyoming579,48311,09710211019.00.99
U.S. total332,031,5543,140,09039,50842,93912.91.37

Deaths by road user

In 2021, the types of motor vehicle crash deaths varied across states. For example,Wyoming had the highest percentage of deaths involving SUV and pickup occupants (47%) and a relatively low percentage of deaths involving car occupants (18%). In contrast, Rhode Island had the highest percentage of deaths involving car occupants (49%) and a relatively low percentage of deaths involving SUV and pickup occupants (14%). Hawaii reported relatively low proportions of fatalities for both cars (14%) and SUVs and pickups (18%), buta relatively high percentage of pedestrian deaths (27%) and motorcyclist deaths (35%).The District of Columbia had the highest percentage of crash deaths involving bicyclists (7%) and the highest percentage involving pedestrians (44%).

Motor vehicle crash deaths by road user type and state, 2021
StateCar occupantsPickup and SUV occupantsLarge truck occupantsMotorcyclistsPedestriansBicyclistsTotal*
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
Alabama39840307311928081281371983100
Alaska16242233116916242367100
Arizona338292672319215813248214541,180100
Arkansas229332213222397147911101693100
California1,5023582219391586141,1082612434,285100
Colorado198292363491137209213152691100
Connecticut125424515106622531831298100
Delaware58432115112418292121136100
District of Columbia820251292218443741100
Florida1,1683175820311670188172219553,738100
Georgia659375182929219411306171511,797100
Hawaii1314171800333525274494100
Idaho9635933483321221831271100
Illinois514393302518117613209163431,334100
Indiana37140240262931371511112212932100
Iowa11633101281646819308113356100
Kansas13432166391134711431041424100
Kentucky304382493125310813759101806100
Louisiana304313253316291918419343972100
Maine51335536212114191221153100
Maryland22440107195180141292361561100
Massachusetts147359523517217741851417100
Michigan353313373014117615174152931,136100
Minnesota17035152311436914501092488100
Mississippi31341268351113859412162772100
Missouri35135312312321661611712711,016100
Montana65271094683261118831239100
Nebraska80368840125211015710221100
Nevada95259424928823802162385100
New Hampshire383240341126228722118100
New Jersey233339914172981421230233699100
New Mexico123261603319454111022161481100
New York331292121812122419293253231,157100
North Carolina663404402618123314248152311,663100
North Dakota303037373388101011101100
Ohio515383212426222617168123021,354100
Oklahoma2503328137132801010614122762100
Oregon20033176298186148715183599100
Pennsylvania428353042522223019176142121,230100
Rhode Island31499140013217112363100
South Carolina439373172616118415190162321,198100
South Dakota5739463121221514900148100
Tennessee50938385293021691317713601,327100
Texas1,404311,41732119352312817189124,498100
Utah11334106321133912431362328100
Vermont243222301116228110074100
Virginia38740289301821141212313162973100
Washington248371482261931414221142670100
West Virginia81299935622910361300280100
Wisconsin2203517428511232048891620100
Wyoming20185247551816111000110100
U.S. total14,7443411,4912775626,084147,38817961242,939100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Crash types

Nationwide, 52% of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2021 occurred in single-vehicle crashes. Montana and Hawaii tied forthe highest percentage of deaths in single-vehicle crashes (70%), while Nebraska had the highest percentage of deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes (57%).

Deaths by crash type and state, 2021
StateSingle-vehicleMultiple-vehicleAll crashes
Number%Number%Number%
Alabama4864949751983100
Alaska3451334967100
Arizona60651574491,180100
Arkansas3605233348693100
California2,362551,923454,285100
Colorado3505134149691100
Connecticut1575314147298100
Delaware68506850136100
District of Columbia2459174141100
Florida1,861501,877503,738100
Georgia93152866481,797100
Hawaii6670283094100
Idaho1445312747271100
Illinois66150673501,334100
Indiana4514848152932100
Iowa2065815042356100
Kansas2024822252424100
Kentucky3974940951806100
Louisiana5275444546972100
Maine92606140153100
Maryland2945226748561100
Massachusetts2345618344417100
Michigan58952547481,136100
Minnesota2645422446488100
Mississippi4165435646772100
Missouri52552491481,016100
Montana167707230239100
Nebraska954312657221100
Nevada2015218448385100
New Hampshire78664034118100
New Jersey4155928441699100
New Mexico2725720943481100
New York68259475411,157100
North Carolina88453779471,663100
North Dakota49495251101100
Ohio66849686511,354100
Oklahoma3795038350762100
Oregon3265427346599100
Pennsylvania63952591481,230100
Rhode Island3657274363100
South Carolina61952579481,198100
South Dakota87596141148100
Tennessee64348684521,327100
Texas2,260502,238504,498100
Utah1624916651328100
Vermont4459304174100
Virginia5505742343973100
Washington3565331447670100
West Virginia1575612344280100
Wisconsin3215229948620100
Wyoming68624238110100
U.S. total22,4655220,4744842,939100

Alcohol involvement

Some states report blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for only a small percentage of passenger vehicle drivers. If BAC is missing for a driver, it is estimated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's multiple imputation model.Subramanian, R. (2002). Transitioning to multiple imputation —A new method to impute missing blood alcohol concentration (BAC) values in FARS(Report no. DOT HS-809-403). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.However, BAC information is most precise in states that report a high percentage of crashes where BAC information is reported. In the following table, estimated percentages of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs at or above 0.08% are shown only for states in which BAC reporting for fatally injured drivers was 70% or higher. Estimated percentages are based on known BAC when available and imputed BAC for the remaining drivers.

Nationally in 2021, BAC was reported for 59% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers. Reporting rates varied substantially, from a high of 95% (Hawaii) to a low of9% (Mississippi). Thirty-onestates had BAC reporting rates of at least 70%. Among these states, Montana had the highest estimated percentage of fatally injured drivers with BACs of 0.08% or higher (47%), while West Virginia had the lowest (21%).

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BAC ≥ 0.08% by state, 2021
StateTotal drivers killedDrivers killed with known BAC resultsEstimated drivers killed with BACs ≥ 0.08
NumberNumber%Number%
Alabama54931056
Alaska252184727
Arizona42616238
Arkansas347268778926
California1,76069840
Colorado3252939010432
Connecticut148131895436
Delaware573561
District of Columbia9889336
Florida1,42976854
Georgia92241145
Hawaii201995945
Idaho1437754
Illinois64639261
Indiana48419941
Iowa1699254
Kansas24010343
Kentucky4293217510424
Louisiana4874098415933
Maine8263772732
Maryland260199778733
Massachusetts202188937436
Michigan54421439
Minnesota257183716626
Mississippi456409
Missouri5154047814528
Montana13696716447
Nebraska1317557
Nevada143117824532
New Hampshire6250812540
New Jersey260228887228
New Mexico197151777136
New York43018343
North Carolina89961669
North Dakota4838791225
Ohio6625618522434
Oklahoma408358889523
Oregon3062157010133
Pennsylvania56834961
Rhode Island3225781238
South Carolina6074467323338
South Dakota7967853037
Tennessee70936151
Texas2,11896846
Utah153128843624
Vermont3934871334
Virginia5314388215830
Washington290246859633
West Virginia146130893021
Wisconsin31710232
Wyoming5942712135
U.S. total20,26112,032596,11530
Note. Cells with a dash have insufficient reporting of results to reliably estimate the percent of fatally injured drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08%.

Restraint use

Based on daytime observational surveys, the nationwide rate of seat belt use among front seat passenger vehicle occupants in 2021 was 90%. California had the highest observed seat belt use for front seat occupants, at 97%, while New Hampshire had the lowest, at 76%.National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2022). Seat belt use in 2021 — Use rates in the states and territories(Report No. DOT HS-813-307). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Rates of restraint use among fatally injured motor vehicle occupants will be lower than the overall observed restraint use rate because unrestrained occupants are more likely than restrained ones to be fatally injured in a crash. Restrained fatally injured occupants include occupants in child safety seats and occupants restrained by seat belts. In 2021, just 45% of fatally injured occupants were restrained. New York had the highest restraint use percentage among fatally injured occupants at 57%. New Hampshire had the lowest restraint use among fatally injured occupants at just 19%.

Rates of observed daytime front-seat belt use and number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants by restraint use and state, 2021
State and percent of observed seat belt useRestrained fatally injured occupantsUnrestrained fatally injured occupantsUnknown restraint status of fatally injured occupantsTotal fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants
Number%Number%Number%Number
Alabama913164435849527726
Alaska921744133392339
Arizona89215352944810117610
Arkansas841793923452419454
California971,246538813822092,347
Colorado871804122552297434
Connecticut92704174442615170
Delaware92364640513479
District of Columbia965505500010
Florida901,01852896463321,947
Georgia95520445614711391,194
Hawaii94113719630030
Idaho83683610857147190
Illinois94314373373920424855
Indiana93260422474011218619
Iowa931064889402612221
Kansas8612742138454013305
Kentucky9026648291522<1559
Louisiana8622736339536911635
Maine925249555100107
Maryland9115145148443611335
Massachusetts789137111454418246
Michigan93324462403413619700
Minnesota9216350102316219327
Mississippi8026044238418815586
Missouri882093140861487665
Montana92543111163106175
Nebraska81643879462716170
Nevada93975072372513194
New Hampshire7615194862151978
New Jersey941464316047319337
New Mexico901033617060124285
New York9331457184335510553
North Carolina9056150518464441,123
North Dakota822943314681268
Ohio84309364435111013862
Oklahoma842344426149418536
Oregon9517847121328121380
Pennsylvania90268363725010414744
Rhode Island891946184441041
South Carolina903434538250425767
South Dakota873130656299105
Tennessee9041446395449511904
Texas901,344471,19542328112,867
Utah881155281362612222
Vermont89183828601247
Virginia823324833949162687
Washington9420050148375013398
West Virginia88774273403418184
Wisconsin8815539169437218396
Wyoming80263644612372
U.S. total9011,8774511,958452,7501026,585

Rural versus urban

Nationwide, 40% of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2021 occurred in rural areas. The states with the highest percentage of crash deaths on rural roads were Vermont (92%), South Dakota (82%), andWyoming (78%). The states with the lowest percentage were Massachusetts (6%), Maryland (7%), and New Jersey (9%). The District of Columbia had zero crash deaths in rural areas because its entirety is coded as an urban area.

Number and percent of motor vehicle crash deaths by land use and state, 2021
StateUrbanRuralUnknownTotal
Number%Number%Number%Number
Alabama463475205300983
Alaska314636540067
Arizona78066357304341,180
Arkansas285414085900693
California2,992701,291302<14,285
Colorado39457295432<1691
Connecticut25385451500298
Delaware9368433200136
District of Columbia41100000041
Florida2,95879778212<13,738
Georgia1,1996759833001,797
Hawaii737819202294
Idaho8431186691<1271
Illinois95371371281011,334
Indiana50554425462<1932
Iowa107302476921356
Kansas164392576131424
Kentucky30938496621<1806
Louisiana56458406422<1972
Maine38251117343153
Maryland50991417112561
Massachusetts389932761<1417
Michigan71263412361211,136
Minnesota22546262541<1488
Mississippi23430459597910772
Missouri51150503502<11,016
Montana56231817621239
Nebraska57261647400221
Nevada255661303400385
New Hampshire5748605111118
New Jersey61888669152699
New Mexico220462585431481
New York90178255221<11,157
North Carolina87853784471<11,663
North Dakota2424777600101
Ohio82161521381211,354
Oklahoma32543436571<1762
Oregon255433445700599
Pennsylvania74260484394<11,230
Rhode Island507912191263
South Carolina5404565855001,198
South Dakota27181218200148
Tennessee8036152439001,327
Texas2,749611,744395<14,498
Utah188571404300328
Vermont6868920074
Virginia42844542563<1973
Washington399602674041670
West Virginia10538174621<1280
Wisconsin20433414672<1620
Wyoming2422867800110
U.S. total25,5986017,10340238142,939
Fatality Facts 2021: State by state (2024)
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