Fatal crashes in the United States in 2016
In 2016, 37,806 people died in 34,748 fatal crashes on US roads, 6.5% more than in 2015. That is about 103 deaths a day, and 11.7 deaths per 100,000 residents.
2015 · 2017 · All states today. 2016 figures are final; the peak year since 1975 was 1979.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2016 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2016
California, Texas and Florida together had 29% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 41 states and fell in 10 on the year before; the largest change was in New Mexico, 36% up.
| State | Deaths, 2016 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2015 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 3,837 | 3,540 | 13.3% | 9.8 |
| 2 | Texas | 3,797 | 3,427 | 6.0% | 13.6 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,176 | 2,935 | 8.1% | 15.4 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,556 | 1,424 | 8.7% | 15.1 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,450 | 1,348 | 5.1% | 14.3 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 1,188 | 1,088 | -1.0% | 9.3 |
| 7 | Ohio | 1,132 | 1,053 | 2.0% | 9.7 |
| 8 | Alabama | 1,083 | 979 | 27.4% | 22.3 |
| 9 | Illinois | 1,078 | 1,000 | 8.0% | 8.4 |
| 10 | Michigan | 1,065 | 981 | 10.1% | 10.7 |
| 11 | New York | 1,041 | 981 | -8.4% | 5.3 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 1,037 | 962 | 7.8% | 15.6 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 1,020 | 941 | 4.2% | 20.6 |
| 14 | Arizona | 952 | 856 | 6.1% | 13.7 |
| 15 | Missouri | 947 | 872 | 8.9% | 15.6 |
| 16 | Kentucky | 834 | 763 | 9.6% | 18.8 |
| 17 | Indiana | 829 | 776 | 1.5% | 12.5 |
| 18 | Virginia | 760 | 722 | 0.8% | 9.0 |
| 19 | Louisiana | 757 | 704 | 0.7% | 16.2 |
| 20 | Mississippi | 687 | 625 | 1.5% | 23.0 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 687 | 628 | 6.5% | 17.5 |
| 22 | Colorado | 608 | 558 | 11.2% | 11.0 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 607 | 544 | 7.2% | 10.5 |
| 24 | New Jersey | 602 | 570 | 7.3% | 6.8 |
| 25 | Arkansas | 561 | 504 | 2.0% | 18.8 |
| 26 | Washington | 536 | 504 | -2.7% | 7.3 |
| 27 | Maryland | 522 | 484 | 0.4% | 8.7 |
| 28 | Oregon | 498 | 448 | 11.7% | 12.2 |
| 29 | Kansas | 429 | 381 | 20.8% | 14.7 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 405 | 361 | 35.9% | 19.4 |
| 31 | Iowa | 402 | 355 | 25.6% | 12.8 |
| 32 | Minnesota | 392 | 357 | -4.6% | 7.1 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | 387 | 356 | 12.5% | 5.7 |
| 34 | Nevada | 329 | 304 | 0.9% | 11.3 |
| 35 | Connecticut | 304 | 292 | 12.6% | 8.5 |
| 36 | Utah | 281 | 259 | 1.1% | 9.2 |
| 37 | West Virginia | 269 | 250 | 0.4% | 14.7 |
| 38 | Idaho | 253 | 232 | 17.1% | 15.0 |
| 39 | Nebraska | 218 | 194 | -11.4% | 11.4 |
| 40 | Montana | 190 | 171 | -15.2% | 18.3 |
| 41 | Maine | 160 | 150 | 2.6% | 12.0 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | 136 | 130 | 19.3% | 10.1 |
| 43 | Hawaii | 120 | 109 | 29.0% | 8.4 |
| 44 | Delaware | 119 | 116 | -9.2% | 12.5 |
| 45 | South Dakota | 116 | 103 | -13.4% | 13.4 |
| 46 | North Dakota | 113 | 102 | -13.7% | 15.0 |
| 47 | Wyoming | 112 | 100 | -22.8% | 19.2 |
| 48 | Alaska | 84 | 78 | 29.2% | 11.3 |
| 49 | Vermont | 62 | 57 | 8.8% | 9.9 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 51 | 48 | 13.3% | 4.8 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 27 | 26 | 17.4% | 3.9 |
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 2016
Vehicle occupants were 67% of the 37,806 people killed on US roads in 2016; pedestrians 16% (6,080), motorcyclists 14% (5,337), cyclists 2.3% (853).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 25,276 | 67% |
| Pedestrians | 6,080 | 16% |
| Motorcyclists | 5,337 | 14% |
| Cyclists | 853 | 2.3% |
| Others | 260 | 0.7% |
27% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver, 27% speeding, 5.8% a hit-and-run; 48% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted; 48% 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 2016
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 1,300 fatal crashes from 2016 to 2016. 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 | 3.7 percent, 1,282 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 622 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 527 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 851 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,078 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 937 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 508 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 670 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 644 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 830 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,028 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 825 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 401 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 606 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 593 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 806 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 945 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 780 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 456 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 606 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 573 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 895 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,042 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 840 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 484 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 633 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 620 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 876 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1,108 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 960 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 616 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 671 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 623 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 958 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 1,197 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 1,292 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 1,300 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 645 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 657 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 951 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 1,279 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 1,280 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.8%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar7.8%
- Apr7.8%
- May8.6%
- Jun8.7%
- Jul8.7%
- Aug9.0%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct9.5%
- Nov8.8%
- Dec8.3%
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 2016
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2016?
- 37,806 people died in 34,748 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2016, 6.5% more than in 2015. That is about 103 deaths a day. 11.7 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2016?
- California, with 3,837 deaths in 3,540 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 3,797 and Florida third with 3,176.
- How many fatal crashes involved a drinking driver in 2016?
- 9,308 of 34,748 fatal crashes in 2016, 27%, involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking. 9,262 (27%) involved speeding.
- Is 2016 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2016 figures are final.
Where the 2016 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2016, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.