Fatal crashes in the United States in 2023
In 2023, 41,025 people died in 37,769 fatal crashes on US roads, 4.0% fewer than in 2022. That is about 112 deaths a day, and 12.2 deaths per 100,000 residents. In 2024, deaths fell to 39,254, 4.3% fewer than in 2023.
2022 · 2024 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 2023 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 2023
Texas, California and Florida together had 29% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 14 states and fell in 37 on the year before; the largest change was in District of Columbia, 38% up.
| State | Deaths, 2023 | Fatal crashes | Change on 2022 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 4,294 | 3,877 | -2.6% | 14.0 |
| 2 | California | 4,169 | 3,826 | -8.2% | 10.6 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,375 | 3,163 | -4.9% | 14.7 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,610 | 1,486 | -10.4% | 14.6 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 1,577 | 1,465 | -3.3% | 14.5 |
| 6 | Tennessee | 1,323 | 1,219 | +0.8% | 18.5 |
| 7 | Arizona | 1,308 | 1,198 | -0.9% | 17.5 |
| 8 | Ohio | 1,242 | 1,150 | -2.5% | 10.5 |
| 9 | Illinois | 1,241 | 1,143 | -2.1% | 9.8 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 1,211 | 1,133 | +2.7% | 9.3 |
| 11 | New York | 1,117 | 1,035 | -5.5% | 5.7 |
| 12 | Michigan | 1,096 | 1,022 | -2.5% | 10.9 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 1,047 | 976 | -4.3% | 19.4 |
| 14 | Missouri | 991 | 905 | -6.2% | 16.0 |
| 15 | Alabama | 974 | 893 | -1.4% | 19.0 |
| 16 | Virginia | 914 | 856 | -9.1% | 10.5 |
| 17 | Indiana | 904 | 848 | -7.4% | 13.1 |
| 18 | Kentucky | 814 | 767 | +9.4% | 17.9 |
| 19 | Louisiana | 811 | 755 | -10.5% | 17.7 |
| 20 | Washington | 809 | 732 | +8.9% | 10.3 |
| 21 | Mississippi | 733 | 667 | +4.3% | 24.9 |
| 22 | Colorado | 720 | 666 | -5.8% | 12.2 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | 711 | 636 | +0.1% | 17.5 |
| 24 | Maryland | 621 | 577 | +9.7% | 10.0 |
| 25 | New Jersey | 605 | 572 | -12.2% | 6.5 |
| 26 | Arkansas | 596 | 542 | -6.4% | 19.4 |
| 27 | Oregon | 587 | 534 | -2.5% | 13.8 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | 586 | 533 | -3.0% | 9.9 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 440 | 405 | -5.6% | 20.7 |
| 30 | Nevada | 406 | 367 | -2.6% | 12.6 |
| 31 | Minnesota | 402 | 364 | -9.5% | 7.0 |
| 32 | Kansas | 387 | 353 | -5.6% | 13.1 |
| 33 | Iowa | 379 | 330 | +12.8% | 11.8 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | 342 | 324 | -21.4% | 4.8 |
| 35 | Connecticut | 308 | 289 | -15.8% | 8.5 |
| 36 | Utah | 280 | 251 | -12.2% | 8.1 |
| 37 | Idaho | 275 | 242 | +27.9% | 14.0 |
| 38 | West Virginia | 260 | 233 | -2.3% | 14.7 |
| 39 | Nebraska | 227 | 206 | -7.0% | 11.4 |
| 40 | Montana | 208 | 196 | -3.3% | 18.4 |
| 41 | Wyoming | 144 | 121 | +7.5% | 24.6 |
| 42 | South Dakota | 140 | 128 | +2.2% | 15.2 |
| 43 | Delaware | 135 | 128 | -16.7% | 13.0 |
| 44 | Maine | 135 | 127 | -25.8% | 9.6 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | 127 | 119 | -13.0% | 9.1 |
| 46 | North Dakota | 106 | 96 | +8.2% | 13.4 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 93 | 88 | -19.8% | 6.5 |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 71 | 67 | +36.5% | 6.4 |
| 49 | Vermont | 69 | 63 | -9.2% | 10.6 |
| 50 | Alaska | 61 | 57 | -25.6% | 8.3 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 44 | 39 | +37.5% | 6.4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every state in every year as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/2023/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
Who died and how in 2023
Vehicle occupants were 63% of the 41,025 people killed on US roads in 2023; pedestrians 18% (7,367), motorcyclists 16% (6,367), cyclists 2.9% (1,173).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 25,773 | 63% |
| Pedestrians | 7,367 | 18% |
| Motorcyclists | 6,367 | 16% |
| Cyclists | 1,173 | 2.9% |
| Others | 345 | 0.8% |
26% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver, 28% speeding, 7.5% a hit-and-run; 49% 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 2023
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 1,623 fatal crashes in 2023. 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 | 4.1 percent, 1,529 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 687 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 549 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 865 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1,229 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,140 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.7 percent, 625 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 690 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 603 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 857 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,072 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 995 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 397 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 666 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 582 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 874 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,104 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 936 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 462 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 732 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 579 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 876 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 1,167 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 1,007 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 498 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 636 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 627 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 916 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,142 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 1,124 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 652 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 678 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 649 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 962 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 1,379 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 1,464 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.3 percent, 1,254 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 720 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 610 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 1,024 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 1,317 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 1,623 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.4%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar7.4%
- Apr8.1%
- May8.6%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep9.0%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec8.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about US road deaths in 2023
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 2023?
- 41,025 people died in 37,769 fatal crashes on US public roads in 2023, 4.0% fewer than in 2022. That is about 112 deaths a day. 12.2 deaths per 100,000 residents. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Which state had the most road deaths in 2023?
- Texas, with 4,294 deaths in 3,877 fatal crashes. California was second with 4,169 and Florida third with 3,375.
- How many fatal crashes involved a drinking driver in 2023?
- 9,665 of 37,769 fatal crashes in 2023, 26%, involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking. 10,657 (28%) involved speeding.
- Is 2023 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 2023 figures are final.
Where the 2023 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 2023, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. News reports from 2023 often quote NHTSA's early estimate, made before the file was complete, so their totals differ from the final count here. The full method.