Fatal crashes in the United States in 2015
In 2015, 35,484 people died in 32,538 fatal crashes on US roads, 8.4% more than in 2014. That is about 97 deaths a day, and 11.1 deaths per 100,000 residents.
2014 · 2016 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2015 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2015
Texas, California and Florida together had 28% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 37 states and fell in 13 on the year before; the largest change was in Vermont, 30% up.
| State | Deaths, 2015 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2014 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 3,582 | 3,190 | 1.3% | 13.0 |
| 2 | California | 3,387 | 3,123 | 9.2% | 8.7 |
| 3 | Florida | 2,938 | 2,699 | 17.8% | 14.5 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,432 | 1,329 | 23.0% | 14.1 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,379 | 1,275 | 7.4% | 13.7 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 1,200 | 1,102 | 0.4% | 9.4 |
| 7 | New York | 1,136 | 1,061 | 9.1% | 5.8 |
| 8 | Ohio | 1,110 | 1,029 | 10.3% | 9.6 |
| 9 | Illinois | 998 | 914 | 8.0% | 7.8 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 979 | 911 | 19.0% | 20.0 |
| 11 | Michigan | 967 | 896 | 7.3% | 9.7 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 962 | 888 | -0.1% | 14.6 |
| 13 | Arizona | 897 | 811 | 16.0% | 13.1 |
| 14 | Missouri | 870 | 803 | 13.6% | 14.3 |
| 15 | Alabama | 850 | 784 | 3.7% | 17.5 |
| 16 | Indiana | 817 | 752 | 9.7% | 12.4 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 761 | 694 | 13.2% | 17.2 |
| 18 | Virginia | 754 | 712 | 7.3% | 9.0 |
| 19 | Louisiana | 752 | 698 | 1.6% | 16.1 |
| 20 | Mississippi | 677 | 604 | 11.5% | 22.7 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 645 | 590 | -3.6% | 16.5 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 566 | 523 | 11.9% | 9.8 |
| 23 | New Jersey | 561 | 521 | 0.9% | 6.3 |
| 24 | Washington | 551 | 499 | 19.3% | 7.7 |
| 25 | Arkansas | 550 | 491 | 17.0% | 18.5 |
| 26 | Colorado | 547 | 507 | 12.1% | 10.0 |
| 27 | Maryland | 520 | 479 | 17.6% | 8.7 |
| 28 | Oregon | 446 | 411 | 24.9% | 11.1 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 411 | 375 | 13.9% | 7.5 |
| 30 | Kansas | 355 | 322 | -7.8% | 12.2 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 344 | 327 | -2.8% | 5.1 |
| 32 | Nevada | 326 | 297 | 12.0% | 11.4 |
| 33 | Iowa | 320 | 282 | -0.6% | 10.3 |
| 34 | New Mexico | 298 | 269 | -22.8% | 14.3 |
| 35 | Utah | 278 | 258 | 8.6% | 9.3 |
| 36 | Connecticut | 270 | 257 | 8.9% | 7.5 |
| 37 | West Virginia | 268 | 246 | -1.5% | 14.5 |
| 38 | Nebraska | 246 | 218 | 9.3% | 13.0 |
| 39 | Montana | 224 | 204 | 16.7% | 21.7 |
| 40 | Idaho | 216 | 198 | 16.1% | 13.1 |
| 41 | Maine | 156 | 144 | 19.1% | 11.7 |
| 42 | Wyoming | 145 | 129 | -3.3% | 24.8 |
| 43 | South Dakota | 134 | 116 | -1.5% | 15.7 |
| 44 | Delaware | 131 | 127 | 5.6% | 13.9 |
| 45 | North Dakota | 131 | 111 | -3.0% | 17.4 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 114 | 103 | 20.0% | 8.5 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 93 | 85 | -2.1% | 6.5 |
| 48 | Alaska | 65 | 60 | -11.0% | 8.8 |
| 49 | Vermont | 57 | 50 | 29.5% | 9.1 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 45 | 41 | -11.8% | 4.3 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 23 | 23 | 0.0% | 3.4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died and how in 2015
Vehicle occupants were 67% of the 35,484 people killed on US roads in 2015; pedestrians 16% (5,494), motorcyclists 14% (5,029), cyclists 2.3% (829).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 23,899 | 67% |
| Pedestrians | 5,494 | 16% |
| Motorcyclists | 5,029 | 14% |
| Cyclists | 829 | 2.3% |
| Others | 233 | 0.7% |
28% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver, 27% speeding, 5.4% a hit-and-run; 48% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted; 49% of fatal crashes were on rural roads and 28% in the dark on unlit roads.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happened in 2015
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 1,287 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2015. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.0 percent, 1,281 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 585 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 512 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 812 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 1,087 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 983 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 410 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 568 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 571 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 809 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 939 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 717 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 335 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 564 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 583 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 792 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 954 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 725 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 396 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 569 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 576 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 842 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 984 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 786 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 496 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 595 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 589 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 837 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,014 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 897 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 584 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 605 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 579 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 879 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1,071 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 1,166 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.5 percent, 1,144 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 612 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 605 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 834 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 1,116 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 1,287 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.3%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar7.4%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.8%
- Jun8.6%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug9.4%
- Sep8.9%
- Oct9.4%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec8.8%
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 the United States in 2015
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2015?
- 35,484 people died in 32,538 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2015, 8.4% more than in 2014. That is about 97 deaths a day. 11.1 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2015?
- Texas, with 3,582 deaths in 3,190 fatal crashes. California was second with 3,387 and Florida third with 2,938.
- How many fatal crashes involved a drinking driver in 2015?
- 9,215 of 32,538 fatal crashes in 2015, 28%, involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking. 8,706 (27%) involved speeding.
- Is 2015 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2015 figures are final.
Where the 2015 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2015, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.