Fatal crashes in the United States in 2018
In 2018, 36,835 people died in 33,919 fatal crashes on US roads, 1.7% fewer than in 2017. That is about 101 deaths a day, and 11.3 deaths per 100,000 residents.
2017 · 2019 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2018 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2018
California, Texas and Florida together had 29% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 19 states and fell in 31 on the year before; the largest change was in New Hampshire, 44% up.
| State | Deaths, 2018 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2017 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 3,798 | 3,485 | -2.2% | 9.6 |
| 2 | Texas | 3,648 | 3,311 | -2.3% | 12.7 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,135 | 2,917 | 0.6% | 14.8 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,505 | 1,408 | -2.3% | 14.3 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,436 | 1,321 | 1.7% | 13.8 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 1,190 | 1,103 | 4.7% | 9.3 |
| 7 | Ohio | 1,068 | 996 | -9.4% | 9.1 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 1,040 | 973 | 1.6% | 15.4 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 1,036 | 969 | 4.8% | 20.4 |
| 10 | Illinois | 1,035 | 951 | -5.0% | 8.1 |
| 11 | Arizona | 1,011 | 918 | 1.3% | 14.1 |
| 12 | Michigan | 977 | 907 | -5.2% | 9.8 |
| 13 | New York | 964 | 910 | -4.2% | 4.9 |
| 14 | Alabama | 953 | 876 | 0.5% | 19.5 |
| 15 | Missouri | 921 | 848 | -1.2% | 15.0 |
| 16 | Indiana | 860 | 776 | -6.1% | 12.8 |
| 17 | Virginia | 820 | 778 | -2.3% | 9.6 |
| 18 | Louisiana | 771 | 719 | 0.1% | 16.5 |
| 19 | Kentucky | 724 | 664 | -7.4% | 16.2 |
| 20 | Mississippi | 663 | 596 | -3.2% | 22.2 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 655 | 603 | -0.3% | 16.6 |
| 22 | Colorado | 632 | 588 | -2.5% | 11.1 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 589 | 531 | -3.9% | 10.1 |
| 24 | New Jersey | 563 | 524 | -9.8% | 6.3 |
| 25 | Washington | 539 | 490 | -4.3% | 7.2 |
| 26 | Arkansas | 520 | 476 | -1.0% | 17.3 |
| 27 | Maryland | 512 | 485 | -8.2% | 8.5 |
| 28 | Oregon | 502 | 446 | 14.4% | 12.0 |
| 29 | Kansas | 405 | 367 | -12.1% | 13.9 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 392 | 351 | 3.2% | 18.7 |
| 31 | Minnesota | 381 | 349 | 6.4% | 6.8 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | 355 | 338 | 2.3% | 5.2 |
| 33 | Nevada | 329 | 299 | 5.8% | 10.9 |
| 34 | Iowa | 319 | 291 | -3.3% | 10.1 |
| 35 | West Virginia | 294 | 265 | -3.3% | 16.3 |
| 36 | Connecticut | 293 | 275 | 4.3% | 8.2 |
| 37 | Utah | 260 | 237 | -4.8% | 8.2 |
| 38 | Idaho | 234 | 215 | -4.5% | 13.4 |
| 39 | Nebraska | 230 | 201 | 0.9% | 11.9 |
| 40 | Montana | 181 | 167 | -2.7% | 17.1 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | 147 | 134 | 44.1% | 10.9 |
| 42 | Maine | 136 | 127 | -21.4% | 10.2 |
| 43 | South Dakota | 130 | 110 | 0.8% | 14.8 |
| 44 | Hawaii | 117 | 110 | 9.3% | 8.2 |
| 45 | Delaware | 111 | 104 | -6.7% | 11.5 |
| 46 | Wyoming | 111 | 100 | -9.8% | 19.2 |
| 47 | North Dakota | 105 | 95 | -9.5% | 13.9 |
| 48 | Alaska | 80 | 69 | 1.3% | 10.9 |
| 49 | Vermont | 68 | 60 | -1.4% | 10.9 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 59 | 56 | -29.8% | 5.6 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 31 | 30 | 0.0% | 4.4 |
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 2018
Vehicle occupants were 66% of the 36,835 people killed on US roads in 2018; pedestrians 17% (6,374), motorcyclists 14% (5,038), cyclists 2.4% (871).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 24,332 | 66% |
| Pedestrians | 6,374 | 17% |
| Motorcyclists | 5,038 | 14% |
| Cyclists | 871 | 2.4% |
| Others | 220 | 0.6% |
26% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver, 25% speeding, 5.9% a hit-and-run; 47% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted; 43% 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 2018
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 1,367 fatal crashes from 2018 to 2018. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 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 | 3.5 percent, 1,170 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 607 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 509 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 783 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,017 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 969 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.6 percent, 525 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 641 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 644 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 862 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,033 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 863 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 365 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 637 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 593 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 883 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,011 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 809 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 389 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 637 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 560 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 876 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 975 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 861 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 482 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 650 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 627 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 788 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,022 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 945 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 557 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 639 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 608 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 911 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 1,183 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 1,271 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.4 percent, 1,142 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 623 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 629 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 890 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 1,140 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 1,367 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.8%
- Feb6.8%
- Mar7.7%
- Apr7.6%
- May8.8%
- Jun8.9%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug8.9%
- Sep9.0%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec8.1%
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 2018
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2018?
- 36,835 people died in 33,919 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2018, 1.7% fewer than in 2017. That is about 101 deaths a day. 11.3 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2018?
- California, with 3,798 deaths in 3,485 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 3,648 and Florida third with 3,135.
- How many fatal crashes involved a drinking driver in 2018?
- 8,708 of 33,919 fatal crashes in 2018, 26%, involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking. 8,632 (25%) involved speeding.
- Is 2018 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2018 figures are final.
Where the 2018 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2018, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.