Fatal crashes in the United States in 2003
In 2003, 42,884 people died in 38,477 fatal crashes on US roads, 0.3% fewer than in 2002. That is about 117 deaths a day.
2002 · 2004 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2003 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2003
California, Texas and Florida together had 26% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 23 states and fell in 26 on the year before; the largest change was in District of Columbia, 43% up.
| State | Deaths, 2003 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2002 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 4,224 | 3,731 | 3.3% | |
| 2 | Texas | 3,821 | 3,368 | -0.1% | |
| 3 | Florida | 3,169 | 2,874 | 1.1% | |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,603 | 1,463 | 5.2% | |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 1,577 | 1,433 | -2.3% | |
| 6 | North Carolina | 1,553 | 1,396 | -1.5% | |
| 7 | New York | 1,493 | 1,368 | -2.4% | |
| 8 | Illinois | 1,454 | 1,308 | 2.4% | |
| 9 | Michigan | 1,283 | 1,172 | 0.5% | |
| 10 | Ohio | 1,274 | 1,165 | -10.2% | |
| 11 | Missouri | 1,232 | 1,095 | 2.0% | |
| 12 | Tennessee | 1,193 | 1,091 | 1.4% | |
| 13 | Arizona | 1,118 | 973 | -1.2% | |
| 14 | Alabama | 1,004 | 902 | -3.3% | |
| 15 | South Carolina | 969 | 905 | -8.0% | |
| 16 | Virginia | 943 | 861 | 3.2% | |
| 17 | Louisiana | 940 | 826 | 3.6% | |
| 18 | Kentucky | 928 | 845 | 1.4% | |
| 19 | Mississippi | 872 | 786 | -1.5% | |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 848 | 761 | 5.6% | |
| 21 | Indiana | 833 | 753 | 5.2% | |
| 22 | New Jersey | 733 | 664 | -4.9% | |
| 23 | Oklahoma | 671 | 595 | -9.2% | |
| 24 | Minnesota | 655 | 583 | -0.3% | |
| 25 | Maryland | 650 | 594 | -1.7% | |
| 26 | Colorado | 642 | 570 | -13.6% | |
| 27 | Arkansas | 640 | 563 | 0.0% | |
| 28 | Washington | 600 | 539 | -8.8% | |
| 29 | Oregon | 512 | 429 | 17.4% | |
| 30 | Kansas | 469 | 419 | -7.5% | |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 462 | 434 | 0.7% | |
| 32 | Iowa | 443 | 383 | 9.4% | |
| 33 | New Mexico | 439 | 367 | -2.2% | |
| 34 | West Virginia | 394 | 362 | -10.3% | |
| 35 | Nevada | 368 | 335 | -3.4% | |
| 36 | Utah | 309 | 262 | -5.8% | |
| 37 | Connecticut | 298 | 277 | -8.3% | |
| 38 | Idaho | 293 | 261 | 11.0% | |
| 39 | Nebraska | 293 | 257 | -4.6% | |
| 40 | Montana | 262 | 239 | -2.6% | |
| 41 | Maine | 207 | 186 | -4.2% | |
| 42 | South Dakota | 203 | 173 | 12.8% | |
| 43 | Wyoming | 165 | 141 | -6.3% | |
| 44 | Delaware | 142 | 133 | 14.5% | |
| 45 | Hawaii | 133 | 115 | 11.8% | |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 127 | 116 | 0.0% | |
| 47 | North Dakota | 105 | 95 | 8.2% | |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 104 | 96 | 23.8% | |
| 49 | Alaska | 98 | 87 | 10.1% | |
| 50 | Vermont | 69 | 63 | -11.5% | |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 67 | 63 | 42.6% |
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 2003
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2003?
- 42,884 people died in 38,477 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2003, 0.3% fewer than in 2002. That is about 117 deaths a day.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2003?
- California, with 4,224 deaths in 3,731 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 3,821 and Florida third with 3,169.
- Is 2003 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2003 figures are final.
Where the 2003 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2003, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.