Fatal crashes in the United States in 2008
In 2008, 37,423 people died in 34,172 fatal crashes on US roads, 9.3% fewer than in 2007. That is about 102 deaths a day.
2007 · 2009 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2008 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2008
Texas, California and Florida together had 26% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 6 states and fell in 45 on the year before; the largest change was in Alaska, 24% down.
| State | Deaths, 2008 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2007 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 3,476 | 3,116 | 0.3% | |
| 2 | California | 3,434 | 3,145 | -14.0% | |
| 3 | Florida | 2,980 | 2,763 | -7.3% | |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,495 | 1,370 | -8.9% | |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 1,468 | 1,358 | -1.5% | |
| 6 | North Carolina | 1,428 | 1,319 | -14.8% | |
| 7 | New York | 1,238 | 1,174 | -7.1% | |
| 8 | Ohio | 1,191 | 1,099 | -5.1% | |
| 9 | Illinois | 1,043 | 950 | -16.4% | |
| 10 | Tennessee | 1,043 | 958 | -13.9% | |
| 11 | Michigan | 980 | 915 | -9.8% | |
| 12 | Alabama | 969 | 891 | -12.7% | |
| 13 | Missouri | 960 | 845 | -3.2% | |
| 14 | Arizona | 938 | 843 | -12.4% | |
| 15 | South Carolina | 921 | 841 | -14.5% | |
| 16 | Louisiana | 916 | 821 | -7.8% | |
| 17 | Kentucky | 825 | 751 | -4.5% | |
| 18 | Virginia | 825 | 764 | -19.7% | |
| 19 | Indiana | 820 | 727 | -8.7% | |
| 20 | Mississippi | 783 | 711 | -11.4% | |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 750 | 672 | -2.1% | |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 605 | 561 | -20.0% | |
| 23 | Arkansas | 600 | 552 | -7.6% | |
| 24 | Maryland | 591 | 538 | -3.7% | |
| 25 | New Jersey | 590 | 555 | -18.5% | |
| 26 | Colorado | 548 | 473 | -1.1% | |
| 27 | Washington | 521 | 482 | -8.8% | |
| 28 | Minnesota | 455 | 420 | -10.8% | |
| 29 | Oregon | 416 | 369 | -8.6% | |
| 30 | Iowa | 412 | 368 | -7.6% | |
| 31 | Kansas | 384 | 347 | -7.7% | |
| 32 | West Virginia | 378 | 337 | -12.5% | |
| 33 | New Mexico | 366 | 324 | -11.4% | |
| 34 | Massachusetts | 364 | 338 | -16.1% | |
| 35 | Nevada | 324 | 304 | -13.1% | |
| 36 | Connecticut | 302 | 279 | 2.0% | |
| 37 | Utah | 276 | 245 | -7.7% | |
| 38 | Idaho | 232 | 212 | -7.9% | |
| 39 | Montana | 229 | 208 | -17.3% | |
| 40 | Nebraska | 208 | 188 | -18.8% | |
| 41 | Wyoming | 159 | 139 | 6.0% | |
| 42 | Maine | 155 | 144 | -15.3% | |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 138 | 127 | 7.0% | |
| 44 | Delaware | 121 | 105 | 3.4% | |
| 45 | South Dakota | 121 | 109 | -17.1% | |
| 46 | Hawaii | 107 | 102 | -22.5% | |
| 47 | North Dakota | 104 | 97 | -6.3% | |
| 48 | Vermont | 73 | 66 | 10.6% | |
| 49 | Rhode Island | 65 | 63 | -5.8% | |
| 50 | Alaska | 62 | 55 | -24.4% | |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 34 | 32 | -22.7% |
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 2008
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2008?
- 37,423 people died in 34,172 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2008, 9.3% fewer than in 2007. That is about 102 deaths a day.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2008?
- Texas, with 3,476 deaths in 3,116 fatal crashes. California was second with 3,434 and Florida third with 2,980.
- Is 2008 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2008 figures are final.
Where the 2008 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2008, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.