Fatal crashes in the United States in 2022
In 2022, 42,721 people died in 39,422 fatal crashes on US roads, 1.2% fewer than in 2021. That is about 117 deaths a day, and 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents.
2021 · 2023 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2022 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2022
California, Texas and Florida together had 29% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 22 states and fell in 29 on the year before; the largest change was in New Hampshire, 24% up.
| State | Deaths, 2022 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2021 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 4,539 | 4,218 | 0.6% | 11.6 |
| 2 | Texas | 4,408 | 3,966 | -2.0% | 14.6 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,548 | 3,315 | -5.2% | 15.9 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,796 | 1,677 | -0.7% | 16.4 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,631 | 1,501 | -3.7% | 15.2 |
| 6 | Arizona | 1,320 | 1,200 | 10.7% | 17.9 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 1,313 | 1,214 | -1.1% | 18.6 |
| 8 | Ohio | 1,274 | 1,179 | -5.9% | 10.8 |
| 9 | Illinois | 1,268 | 1,147 | -4.9% | 10.0 |
| 10 | New York | 1,182 | 1,111 | 2.2% | 6.0 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 1,179 | 1,092 | -4.1% | 9.1 |
| 12 | Michigan | 1,124 | 1,054 | -1.1% | 11.2 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 1,094 | 1,019 | -8.7% | 20.7 |
| 14 | Missouri | 1,057 | 962 | 4.0% | 17.1 |
| 15 | Virginia | 1,006 | 944 | 3.4% | 11.6 |
| 16 | Alabama | 988 | 913 | 0.5% | 19.5 |
| 17 | Indiana | 976 | 911 | 4.7% | 14.3 |
| 18 | Louisiana | 906 | 852 | -6.7% | 19.7 |
| 19 | Colorado | 764 | 699 | 10.6% | 13.1 |
| 20 | Kentucky | 744 | 693 | -7.7% | 16.5 |
| 21 | Washington | 743 | 701 | 10.2% | 9.5 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 710 | 643 | -6.8% | 17.6 |
| 23 | Mississippi | 703 | 646 | -8.2% | 23.9 |
| 24 | New Jersey | 689 | 646 | -0.4% | 7.4 |
| 25 | Arkansas | 637 | 577 | -7.9% | 20.9 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 604 | 556 | -2.6% | 10.2 |
| 27 | Oregon | 602 | 553 | 0.5% | 14.2 |
| 28 | Maryland | 566 | 534 | 0.5% | 9.1 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 466 | 419 | -3.5% | 22.0 |
| 30 | Minnesota | 444 | 418 | -9.0% | 7.8 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 435 | 413 | 5.3% | 6.2 |
| 32 | Nevada | 417 | 384 | 8.3% | 13.1 |
| 33 | Kansas | 410 | 364 | -3.1% | 14.0 |
| 34 | Connecticut | 366 | 332 | 20.8% | 10.1 |
| 35 | Iowa | 336 | 305 | -5.6% | 10.5 |
| 36 | Utah | 319 | 296 | -3.9% | 9.4 |
| 37 | West Virginia | 266 | 250 | -5.7% | 15.0 |
| 38 | Nebraska | 244 | 214 | 10.4% | 12.4 |
| 39 | Idaho | 215 | 194 | -21.2% | 11.1 |
| 40 | Montana | 215 | 186 | -10.0% | 19.2 |
| 41 | Maine | 182 | 171 | 19.0% | 13.1 |
| 42 | Delaware | 162 | 143 | 19.1% | 15.9 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 146 | 137 | 23.7% | 10.5 |
| 44 | South Dakota | 137 | 121 | -7.4% | 15.1 |
| 45 | Wyoming | 134 | 118 | 21.8% | 23.0 |
| 46 | Hawaii | 116 | 111 | 23.4% | 8.1 |
| 47 | North Dakota | 98 | 96 | -3.0% | 12.5 |
| 48 | Alaska | 82 | 75 | 17.1% | 11.2 |
| 49 | Vermont | 76 | 73 | 2.7% | 11.7 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 52 | 51 | -17.5% | 4.7 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 32 | 28 | -22.0% | 4.7 |
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 2022
Vehicle occupants were 64% of the 42,721 people killed on US roads in 2022; pedestrians 18% (7,593), motorcyclists 15% (6,255), cyclists 2.6% (1,117).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 27,424 | 64% |
| Pedestrians | 7,593 | 18% |
| Motorcyclists | 6,255 | 15% |
| Cyclists | 1,117 | 2.6% |
| Others | 332 | 0.8% |
26% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver, 28% speeding, 7.3% a hit-and-run; 50% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted; 40% 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 2022
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 1,685 fatal crashes from 2022 to 2022. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 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 | 3.9 percent, 1,531 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 696 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 559 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 836 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,229 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,170 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 589 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 657 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 682 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 940 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 1,094 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1,004 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 472 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 721 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 648 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 886 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,156 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 999 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 522 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 742 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 670 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 928 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,171 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1,032 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 579 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 744 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 699 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 884 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,171 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,147 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 724 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 723 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 719 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1,007 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 1,328 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 1,484 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 1,480 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 705 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 670 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1,012 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 1,432 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 1,685 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.5%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar7.8%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.6%
- Jun8.6%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct9.4%
- Nov8.2%
- 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 2022
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2022?
- 42,721 people died in 39,422 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2022, 1.2% fewer than in 2021. That is about 117 deaths a day. 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2022?
- California, with 4,539 deaths in 4,218 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 4,408 and Florida third with 3,548.
- How many fatal crashes involved a drinking driver in 2022?
- 10,318 of 39,422 fatal crashes in 2022, 26%, involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking. 10,934 (28%) involved speeding.
- Is 2022 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2022 figures are final.
Where the 2022 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2022, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.