Fatal crashes in the United States in 2002
In 2002, 43,005 people died in 38,491 fatal crashes on US roads, 1.9% more than in 2001. That is about 118 deaths a day.
2001 · 2003 · All states today. 2002 figures are final; the peak year since 1975 was 1979.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2002 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2002
California, Texas and Florida together had 26% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 31 states and fell in 19 on the year before; the largest change was in District of Columbia, 31% down.
| State | Deaths, 2002 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2001 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 4,088 | 3,654 | 3.3% | |
| 2 | Texas | 3,823 | 3,348 | 2.3% | |
| 3 | Florida | 3,136 | 2,810 | 4.1% | |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 1,614 | 1,462 | 5.4% | |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,576 | 1,427 | 3.0% | |
| 6 | New York | 1,530 | 1,411 | -2.2% | |
| 7 | Georgia | 1,524 | 1,362 | -7.5% | |
| 8 | Illinois | 1,420 | 1,273 | 0.4% | |
| 9 | Ohio | 1,418 | 1,285 | 2.9% | |
| 10 | Michigan | 1,277 | 1,173 | -3.8% | |
| 11 | Missouri | 1,208 | 1,082 | 10.0% | |
| 12 | Tennessee | 1,177 | 1,058 | -5.9% | |
| 13 | Arizona | 1,132 | 984 | 7.7% | |
| 14 | South Carolina | 1,053 | 949 | -0.7% | |
| 15 | Alabama | 1,038 | 931 | 4.7% | |
| 16 | Kentucky | 915 | 810 | 8.3% | |
| 17 | Virginia | 914 | 830 | -2.2% | |
| 18 | Louisiana | 907 | 816 | -4.7% | |
| 19 | Mississippi | 885 | 769 | 12.9% | |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 803 | 721 | 5.2% | |
| 21 | Indiana | 792 | 714 | -12.9% | |
| 22 | New Jersey | 771 | 698 | 3.5% | |
| 23 | Colorado | 743 | 677 | 0.3% | |
| 24 | Oklahoma | 739 | 639 | 8.4% | |
| 25 | Maryland | 661 | 604 | 0.3% | |
| 26 | Washington | 658 | 586 | 1.4% | |
| 27 | Minnesota | 657 | 590 | 15.7% | |
| 28 | Arkansas | 640 | 556 | 4.7% | |
| 29 | Kansas | 507 | 445 | 2.6% | |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 459 | 433 | -3.8% | |
| 31 | New Mexico | 449 | 398 | -3.2% | |
| 32 | West Virginia | 439 | 400 | 16.8% | |
| 33 | Oregon | 436 | 388 | -10.7% | |
| 34 | Iowa | 405 | 372 | -9.2% | |
| 35 | Nevada | 381 | 330 | 21.3% | |
| 36 | Utah | 328 | 274 | 12.7% | |
| 37 | Connecticut | 325 | 301 | 2.2% | |
| 38 | Nebraska | 307 | 272 | 24.8% | |
| 39 | Montana | 269 | 232 | 17.0% | |
| 40 | Idaho | 264 | 230 | 1.9% | |
| 41 | Maine | 216 | 186 | 12.5% | |
| 42 | South Dakota | 180 | 159 | 5.3% | |
| 43 | Wyoming | 176 | 151 | -5.4% | |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 127 | 117 | -10.6% | |
| 45 | Delaware | 124 | 114 | -8.8% | |
| 46 | Hawaii | 119 | 115 | -15.0% | |
| 47 | North Dakota | 97 | 84 | -7.6% | |
| 48 | Alaska | 89 | 78 | 0.0% | |
| 49 | Rhode Island | 84 | 81 | 3.7% | |
| 50 | Vermont | 78 | 69 | -15.2% | |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 47 | 43 | -30.9% |
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 2002
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2002?
- 43,005 people died in 38,491 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2002, 1.9% more than in 2001. That is about 118 deaths a day.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2002?
- California, with 4,088 deaths in 3,654 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 3,823 and Florida third with 3,136.
- Is 2002 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2002 figures are final.
Where the 2002 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2002, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.