I-40: fatal crashes in every state
From 2015 to 2024, 2,208 fatal crashes on I-40 killed 2,558 people across the 8 states it runs through, the 3rd most of any interstate. In 2024 there were 240 fatal crashes and 276 deaths on the road.
2,552 miles in all; 8.65 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles. All interstates ranked.
I-40 by state: fatal crashes, deaths and per mile
Tennessee has the most fatal crashes on I-40, 561 from 2015 to 2024. Each state's stretch is counted within that state; the per-mile figure needs 20 miles or more of road.
| State | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2024 | Miles | Per 100 miles a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 in Tennessee | 561 | 642 | 63 | 455 | 12.32 |
| 2 | I-40 in New Mexico | 361 | 427 | 30 | 373 | 9.67 |
| 3 | I-40 in North Carolina | 338 | 377 | 47 | 420 | 8.05 |
| 4 | I-40 in Arkansas | 258 | 303 | 23 | 285 | 9.07 |
| 5 | I-40 in Arizona | 249 | 299 | 31 | 359 | 6.93 |
| 6 | I-40 in Oklahoma | 240 | 266 | 20 | 329 | 7.30 |
| 7 | I-40 in Texas | 102 | 135 | 11 | 177 | 5.76 |
| 8 | I-40 in California | 99 | 109 | 15 | 154 | 6.41 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS.
Deaths on I-40 by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 240 | 276 |
| 2023 | 247 | 279 |
| 2022 | 215 | 257 |
| 2021 | 258 | 297 |
| 2020 | 244 | 279 |
| 2019 | 231 | 272 |
| 2018 | 173 | 204 |
| 2017 | 209 | 240 |
| 2016 | 203 | 230 |
| 2015 | 188 | 224 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on I-40
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 86 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 pm to 3 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.9 percent, 86 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 64 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 63 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.7 percent, 58 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 47 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 45 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 45 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 61 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.1 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 51 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.4 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 61 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 75 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.0 percent, 66 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 61 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 58 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 63 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.9%
- Feb6.7%
- Mar7.2%
- Apr7.9%
- May8.4%
- Jun10.2%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug10.0%
- Sep7.4%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov8.0%
- Dec9.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on I-40 first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 41%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a rollover in 14%, a pedestrian in 14%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 902 | 41% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 586 | 27% |
| Rollover | 303 | 14% |
| Pedestrian | 299 | 14% |
| Other | 58 | 2.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 53 | 2.4% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 0.2% |
| Not reported | 3 | 0.1% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on I-40 compare with the United States
A drinking driver was recorded in 18% of fatal crashes in I-40 from 2015 to 2024, below the US share of 26%; speeding in 22%, below the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 5.1%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 14%, above the US share of 8.7%; 45% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the US share of 49%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all US roads.
| I-40 | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 62% | 43% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 28% | above the US share |
| A drinking driver | 18% | 26% | below the US share |
| Speeding | 22% | 27% | below the US share |
| A distracted driver | 14% | 8.7% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.1% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 7.3% | 16% | below the US share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 17% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in I-40
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-40?
- 2,208 fatal crashes killed 2,558 people on I-40 from 2015 to 2024, across the 8 states it runs through. In 2024 there were 240 fatal crashes and 276 deaths.
- Which state has the most fatal crashes on I-40?
- Tennessee, with 561 fatal crashes and 642 deaths from 2015 to 2024; New Mexico is second with 361. Per mile, Tennessee's stretch has 12.32 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles.
- How dangerous is I-40 per mile?
- 8.65 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 2,552 miles of road. That is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic. I-40 ranks 3rd of 68 interstates on this site by fatal crashes.
- When do fatal crashes on I-40 happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 86 fatal crashes.
Other interstates
- I-10 3,274
- I-95 2,778
- I-75 2,062
- I-20 1,789
- I-80 1,774
- I-5 1,745
- I-35 1,531
- I-70 1,354
- I-15 1,188
- I-90 996
- I-85 922
- I-65 913
The deadliest roads in America, every interstate ranked.
Where the I-40 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-40, in every state, with ramps, frontage and service roads left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.