Fatal crashes in the United States in 2020
In 2020, 39,007 people died in 35,935 fatal crashes on US roads, 7.3% more than in 2019. That is about 107 deaths a day, and 11.8 deaths per 100,000 residents.
2019 · 2021 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2020 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2020
California, Texas and Florida together had 29% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 43 states and fell in 7 on the year before; the largest change was in District of Columbia, 57% up.
| State | Deaths, 2020 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2019 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 3,980 | 3,673 | 7.0% | 10.1 |
| 2 | Texas | 3,876 | 3,522 | 7.1% | 13.3 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,329 | 3,097 | 4.5% | 15.4 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,658 | 1,517 | 11.1% | 15.4 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,538 | 1,415 | 5.6% | 14.7 |
| 6 | Ohio | 1,230 | 1,154 | 6.7% | 10.4 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 1,217 | 1,119 | 7.1% | 17.6 |
| 8 | Illinois | 1,193 | 1,086 | 18.2% | 9.3 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 1,129 | 1,060 | 6.6% | 8.7 |
| 10 | Michigan | 1,086 | 1,013 | 10.1% | 10.8 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 1,066 | 964 | 6.0% | 20.8 |
| 12 | Arizona | 1,053 | 966 | 7.6% | 14.7 |
| 13 | New York | 1,045 | 958 | 11.9% | 5.2 |
| 14 | Missouri | 987 | 914 | 12.0% | 16.0 |
| 15 | Alabama | 934 | 852 | 0.4% | 18.6 |
| 16 | Indiana | 897 | 815 | 10.7% | 13.2 |
| 17 | Virginia | 850 | 796 | 2.3% | 9.8 |
| 18 | Louisiana | 828 | 762 | 13.9% | 17.8 |
| 19 | Kentucky | 780 | 709 | 6.6% | 17.3 |
| 20 | Mississippi | 748 | 685 | 16.5% | 25.3 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 653 | 600 | 2.0% | 16.5 |
| 22 | Arkansas | 651 | 598 | 27.4% | 21.6 |
| 23 | Colorado | 622 | 574 | 4.2% | 10.7 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 612 | 559 | 7.9% | 10.4 |
| 25 | New Jersey | 586 | 549 | 5.0% | 6.3 |
| 26 | Washington | 574 | 539 | 6.7% | 7.4 |
| 27 | Maryland | 573 | 546 | 7.1% | 9.3 |
| 28 | Oregon | 507 | 460 | 2.8% | 11.9 |
| 29 | Kansas | 426 | 382 | 3.9% | 14.5 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 398 | 365 | -6.4% | 18.8 |
| 31 | Minnesota | 394 | 369 | 8.2% | 6.9 |
| 32 | Iowa | 343 | 310 | 2.1% | 10.7 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | 343 | 327 | 2.1% | 4.9 |
| 34 | Nevada | 333 | 309 | 9.5% | 10.7 |
| 35 | Connecticut | 299 | 284 | 20.1% | 8.4 |
| 36 | Utah | 276 | 256 | 11.3% | 8.4 |
| 37 | West Virginia | 267 | 249 | 2.7% | 14.9 |
| 38 | Nebraska | 233 | 217 | -6.0% | 11.9 |
| 39 | Idaho | 214 | 188 | -4.5% | 11.6 |
| 40 | Montana | 213 | 190 | 15.8% | 19.6 |
| 41 | Maine | 164 | 151 | 4.5% | 12.0 |
| 42 | South Dakota | 141 | 132 | 38.2% | 15.9 |
| 43 | Wyoming | 127 | 114 | -13.6% | 22.0 |
| 44 | Delaware | 116 | 104 | -12.1% | 11.7 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | 104 | 98 | 3.0% | 7.5 |
| 46 | North Dakota | 100 | 96 | 0.0% | 12.8 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 85 | 81 | -21.3% | 5.9 |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 67 | 66 | 17.5% | 6.1 |
| 49 | Alaska | 64 | 53 | -4.5% | 8.7 |
| 50 | Vermont | 62 | 58 | 31.9% | 9.6 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 36 | 34 | 56.5% | 5.4 |
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 2020
Vehicle occupants were 66% of the 39,007 people killed on US roads in 2020; pedestrians 17% (6,565), motorcyclists 14% (5,619), cyclists 2.4% (948).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 25,618 | 66% |
| Pedestrians | 6,565 | 17% |
| Motorcyclists | 5,619 | 14% |
| Cyclists | 948 | 2.4% |
| Others | 257 | 0.7% |
27% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver, 29% speeding, 7.0% a hit-and-run; 51% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted; 41% 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 2020
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 1,530 fatal crashes from 2020 to 2020. 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 | 3.5 percent, 1,255 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 606 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 466 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 901 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 1,213 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,117 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 530 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 602 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 599 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 819 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 1,010 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 904 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 416 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 613 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 579 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 843 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,095 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 952 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 478 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 641 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 574 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 854 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,095 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,033 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 476 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 611 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 577 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 935 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1,128 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,094 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 597 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 651 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 605 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 943 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 1,287 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 1,391 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.0 percent, 1,062 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 592 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 623 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 971 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 1,362 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 1,530 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.9%
- Feb6.8%
- Mar6.6%
- Apr5.9%
- May8.0%
- Jun9.4%
- Jul9.7%
- Aug9.8%
- Sep9.6%
- Oct9.9%
- Nov8.9%
- Dec8.4%
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 2020
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2020?
- 39,007 people died in 35,935 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2020, 7.3% more than in 2019. That is about 107 deaths a day. 11.8 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2020?
- California, with 3,980 deaths in 3,673 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 3,876 and Florida third with 3,329.
- How many fatal crashes involved a drinking driver in 2020?
- 9,586 of 35,935 fatal crashes in 2020, 27%, involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking. 10,286 (29%) involved speeding.
- Is 2020 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2020 figures are final.
Where the 2020 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2020, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.