Fatal crashes in the United States in 1976
In 1976, 45,523 people died in 39,747 fatal crashes on US roads, 2.2% more than in 1975. That is about 124 deaths a day.
1975 · 1977 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 1976 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 1976
California, Texas and New York together had 22% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 31 states and fell in 19 on the year before; the largest change was in Vermont, 21% down.
| State | Deaths, 1976 | Fatal crashes | Change on 1975 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 4,395 | 3,895 | 7.4% | |
| 2 | Texas | 3,172 | 2,730 | -5.9% | |
| 3 | New York | 2,291 | 2,062 | -3.2% | |
| 4 | Illinois | 2,031 | 1,781 | -0.5% | |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 2,021 | 1,789 | -2.7% | |
| 6 | Florida | 1,956 | 1,711 | -2.1% | |
| 7 | Michigan | 1,924 | 1,707 | 8.2% | |
| 8 | Ohio | 1,893 | 1,669 | 7.2% | |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1,502 | 1,304 | -0.3% | |
| 10 | Georgia | 1,264 | 1,119 | -7.1% | |
| 11 | Indiana | 1,258 | 1,080 | 11.5% | |
| 12 | Missouri | 1,187 | 1,021 | 13.6% | |
| 13 | Tennessee | 1,149 | 1,013 | 2.0% | |
| 14 | New Jersey | 1,029 | 920 | -1.3% | |
| 15 | Virginia | 1,000 | 882 | 0.7% | |
| 16 | Alabama | 988 | 831 | 9.5% | |
| 17 | Louisiana | 941 | 831 | 0.7% | |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 935 | 808 | 0.5% | |
| 19 | Kentucky | 854 | 748 | -1.0% | |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 832 | 689 | 9.9% | |
| 21 | South Carolina | 806 | 694 | -1.7% | |
| 22 | Washington | 804 | 694 | 6.1% | |
| 23 | Minnesota | 802 | 712 | 6.4% | |
| 24 | Massachusetts | 789 | 699 | -8.7% | |
| 25 | Iowa | 779 | 657 | 16.3% | |
| 26 | Arizona | 739 | 634 | 10.3% | |
| 27 | Maryland | 660 | 582 | -1.5% | |
| 28 | Oregon | 630 | 558 | 12.1% | |
| 29 | Colorado | 620 | 543 | 6.7% | |
| 30 | Mississippi | 581 | 496 | 6.4% | |
| 31 | Kansas | 549 | 463 | 7.9% | |
| 32 | New Mexico | 549 | 461 | -1.1% | |
| 33 | Arkansas | 531 | 446 | -5.0% | |
| 34 | West Virginia | 489 | 425 | 6.1% | |
| 35 | Connecticut | 417 | 372 | 7.2% | |
| 36 | Nebraska | 397 | 331 | 7.6% | |
| 37 | Montana | 299 | 248 | 2.7% | |
| 38 | Idaho | 279 | 232 | -0.7% | |
| 39 | Wyoming | 253 | 208 | 20.5% | |
| 40 | Utah | 250 | 221 | -8.1% | |
| 41 | Maine | 228 | 202 | 2.2% | |
| 42 | South Dakota | 219 | 185 | 12.3% | |
| 43 | Nevada | 218 | 187 | 0.0% | |
| 44 | North Dakota | 182 | 151 | 9.0% | |
| 45 | New Hampshire | 157 | 146 | 4.0% | |
| 46 | Hawaii | 145 | 133 | 0.7% | |
| 47 | Alaska | 125 | 109 | 11.6% | |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 119 | 112 | 8.2% | |
| 49 | Delaware | 116 | 104 | -4.9% | |
| 50 | Vermont | 113 | 100 | -21.0% | |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 56 | 52 | -20.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Rates per 100,000 residents are given for 2015 onward, the years the site holds population estimates for.
Questions about fatal crashes in the United States in 1976
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 1976?
- 45,523 people died in 39,747 fatal crashes on US public roads in 1976, 2.2% more than in 1975. That is about 124 deaths a day.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 1976?
- California, with 4,395 deaths in 3,895 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 3,172 and New York third with 2,291.
- Is 1976 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 1976 figures are final.
Where the 1976 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 1976, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.