Fatal crashes in the United States in 2019
In 2019, 36,355 people died in 33,487 fatal crashes on US roads, 1.3% fewer than in 2018. That is about 100 deaths a day, and 11.1 deaths per 100,000 residents.
2018 · 2020 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2019 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2019
California, Texas and Florida together had 29% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 16 states and fell in 35 on the year before; the largest change was in Wyoming, 32% up.
| State | Deaths, 2019 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2018 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 3,719 | 3,427 | -2.1% | 9.4 |
| 2 | Texas | 3,619 | 3,296 | -0.8% | 12.5 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,185 | 2,952 | 1.6% | 14.8 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,492 | 1,378 | -0.9% | 14.1 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,457 | 1,358 | 1.5% | 13.9 |
| 6 | Ohio | 1,153 | 1,039 | 8.0% | 9.9 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 1,136 | 1,041 | 9.2% | 16.6 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 1,059 | 990 | -11.0% | 8.3 |
| 9 | Illinois | 1,009 | 938 | -2.5% | 8.0 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 1,006 | 927 | -2.9% | 19.5 |
| 11 | Michigan | 986 | 903 | 0.9% | 9.9 |
| 12 | Arizona | 979 | 908 | -3.2% | 13.5 |
| 13 | New York | 934 | 879 | -3.1% | 4.8 |
| 14 | Alabama | 930 | 856 | -2.4% | 19.0 |
| 15 | Missouri | 881 | 819 | -4.3% | 14.4 |
| 16 | Virginia | 831 | 774 | 1.3% | 9.7 |
| 17 | Indiana | 810 | 752 | -5.8% | 12.0 |
| 18 | Kentucky | 732 | 667 | 1.1% | 16.4 |
| 19 | Louisiana | 727 | 681 | -5.7% | 15.6 |
| 20 | Mississippi | 642 | 580 | -3.2% | 21.6 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 640 | 584 | -2.3% | 16.2 |
| 22 | Colorado | 597 | 545 | -5.5% | 10.4 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 567 | 527 | -3.7% | 9.7 |
| 24 | New Jersey | 558 | 524 | -0.9% | 6.3 |
| 25 | Washington | 538 | 513 | -0.2% | 7.1 |
| 26 | Maryland | 535 | 496 | 4.5% | 8.8 |
| 27 | Arkansas | 511 | 473 | -1.7% | 16.9 |
| 28 | Oregon | 493 | 455 | -1.8% | 11.7 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 425 | 369 | 8.4% | 20.3 |
| 30 | Kansas | 410 | 361 | 1.2% | 14.1 |
| 31 | Minnesota | 364 | 333 | -4.5% | 6.5 |
| 32 | Iowa | 336 | 313 | 5.3% | 10.6 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | 336 | 323 | -5.4% | 4.9 |
| 34 | Nevada | 304 | 285 | -7.6% | 9.9 |
| 35 | West Virginia | 260 | 247 | -11.6% | 14.5 |
| 36 | Connecticut | 249 | 233 | -15.0% | 7.0 |
| 37 | Nebraska | 248 | 212 | 7.8% | 12.8 |
| 38 | Utah | 248 | 225 | -4.6% | 7.7 |
| 39 | Idaho | 224 | 201 | -4.3% | 12.5 |
| 40 | Montana | 184 | 166 | 1.7% | 17.2 |
| 41 | Maine | 157 | 143 | 15.4% | 11.7 |
| 42 | Wyoming | 147 | 120 | 32.4% | 25.4 |
| 43 | Delaware | 132 | 122 | 18.9% | 13.6 |
| 44 | Hawaii | 108 | 102 | -7.7% | 7.6 |
| 45 | South Dakota | 102 | 88 | -21.5% | 11.5 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 101 | 90 | -31.3% | 7.4 |
| 47 | North Dakota | 100 | 91 | -4.8% | 13.1 |
| 48 | Alaska | 67 | 62 | -16.2% | 9.2 |
| 49 | Rhode Island | 57 | 53 | -3.4% | 5.4 |
| 50 | Vermont | 47 | 44 | -30.9% | 7.5 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 23 | 22 | -25.8% | 3.3 |
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 2019
Vehicle occupants were 66% of the 36,355 people killed on US roads in 2019; pedestrians 17% (6,272), motorcyclists 14% (5,044), cyclists 2.4% (859).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 23,891 | 66% |
| Pedestrians | 6,272 | 17% |
| Motorcyclists | 5,044 | 14% |
| Cyclists | 859 | 2.4% |
| Others | 289 | 0.8% |
26% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver, 26% speeding, 5.9% a hit-and-run; 47% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted; 44% of fatal crashes were on rural roads and 27% 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 2019
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 1,356 fatal crashes from 2019 to 2019. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.6 percent, 1,189 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 557 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 505 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 841 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1,066 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 937 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 450 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 637 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 584 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 893 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 967 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 812 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 384 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 635 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 584 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 890 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 952 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 833 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 416 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 608 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 611 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 794 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 959 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 837 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 431 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 638 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 569 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 837 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 982 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 979 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 582 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 662 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 620 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 966 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 1,170 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 1,255 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.0 percent, 1,010 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 605 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 601 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 892 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 1,147 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 1,356 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.4%
- Feb6.6%
- Mar7.6%
- Apr7.8%
- May8.7%
- Jun8.7%
- Jul9.1%
- Aug9.2%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct8.9%
- Nov8.5%
- 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 2019
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2019?
- 36,355 people died in 33,487 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2019, 1.3% fewer than in 2018. That is about 100 deaths a day. 11.1 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2019?
- California, with 3,719 deaths in 3,427 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 3,619 and Florida third with 3,185.
- How many fatal crashes involved a drinking driver in 2019?
- 8,647 of 33,487 fatal crashes in 2019, 26%, involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking. 8,650 (26%) involved speeding.
- Is 2019 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2019 figures are final.
Where the 2019 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2019, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.