These 25 states have seen the biggest increase in fatal auto collisions in the US
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These 25 states have seen the biggest increase in fatal auto collisions in the US
Aftermath of one car crashing into the front-seat passenger side of another car on the street.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. experienced an unprecedented increase in fatal traffic collisions. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, fatal crashes increased by nearly 17% during the first two years of the pandemic, among the largest two-year increase in history. This sharp rise was punctuated by the deadliest year since 1990, with 39,508 fatal collisions in 2021 alone. Â
While early estimates for 2022 show that the fatal collisions and roadway deaths have leveled off, they have yet to return to prepandemic levels and remain at historic highs.Â
Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi examined three years of fatal collision data from the NHTSA (2019 – 2021) to find out which states experienced the biggest changes and, ultimately, where motorists may be at increased risk of being killed in a crash.
Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi
What Drove the Increase in Fatal Car Collisions?
A chart showing fatal collision data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and which states are affected the most.
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), during the COVID-19 pandemic years, more drivers may have engaged in riskier behavior such as failure to wear seat belts, speeding, and driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. NHTSA data seems to agree with that position. Notably, collisions involving commercial trucks, pedestrians, speed, and alcohol increased sharply between 2019 and 2021. Â
However, just as the impact of the pandemic was felt differently from region to region, so too was its effect on traffic safety.
Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi
Deadly Car Crashes Increased the Most in These 25 States
A chart showing the top 25 states that saw the most fatalities increase from car crashes.
During the observation period, fatal crashes increased in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Of these 25 that had increases greater than the national average of 18%, D.C. led by an increase of 82%, followed by Vermont (57%) and South Dakota (49%).
Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi
Only Six States Saw a Drop in Car Fatalities
A chart showing the six states that saw a drop in car crash fatalities.
As previously mentioned, only six states experienced a decrease in fatal crashes during this time period. Wyoming led the way with a 15% decrease from 2019, followed by Nebraska (9% decrease), Hawaii (8% decrease), North Dakota (7% decrease), Maine (6% decrease), and Alaska (5% decrease).
Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi
Comparing Crash Increases for Every State
A bar chart compares every US state and D.C. based on the changes in fatal car crashes.
How does your state measure up? Below, we provide data for every U.S. state and the District of Columbia. Â
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1. District of Columbia Â
82% increase / +18 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 22 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 40 fatal crashes
2. VermontÂ
57% increase / +25 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 44 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 69 fatal crashes
3. South DakotaÂ
49% increase / +43 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 88 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 131 fatal crashes
4. ArkansasÂ
35% increase / +164 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 467 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 631 fatal crashes
5. MinnesotaÂ
35% increase / +118 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 333 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 451 fatal crashes
6. MontanaÂ
34% increase / +56 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 166 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 222 fatal crashes
7. LouisianaÂ
30% increase / +206 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 681 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 887 fatal crashes
8. UtahÂ
30% increase / +68 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 225 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 293 fatal crashes
9. IllinoisÂ
29% increase / +272 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 938 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1210 fatal crashes
10. New JerseyÂ
27% increase / +144 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 525 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 669 fatal crashes
11. NevadaÂ
26% increase / +75 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 285 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 360 fatal crashes
12. New YorkÂ
25% increase / +223 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 876 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1,099 fatal crashes
13. MassachusettsÂ
24% increase / +76 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 321 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 397 fatal crashes
14. TexasÂ
23% increase / +774 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 3,294 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 4,068 fatal crashes
15. WashingtonÂ
22% increase / +109 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 494 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 603 fatal crashes
16. OregonÂ
22% increase / +101 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 451 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 552 fatal crashes
17. GeorgiaÂ
21% increase / +293 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 1,377 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1,670 fatal crashes
18. South CarolinaÂ
21% increase / +190 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 922 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1112 fatal crashes
19. ConnecticutÂ
21% increase / +50 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 233 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 283 fatal crashes
20. IdahoÂ
21% increase / +43 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 201 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 244 fatal crashes
21. CaliforniaÂ
20% increase / +667 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 3,316 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 3,983 fatal crashes
More on the deadliest highways in California
22. North CarolinaÂ
20% increase / +251 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 1,284 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1,535 fatal crashes
23. OhioÂ
20% increase / +203 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 1,039 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1,242 fatal crashes
24. MississippiÂ
20% increase / +116 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 581 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 697 fatal crashes
25. MichiganÂ
19% increase / +170 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 902 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1,072 fatal crashes
26. TennesseeÂ
18% increase / +189 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 1,040 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1,229 fatal crashes
27. New HampshireÂ
18% increase / +16 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 90 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 106 fatal crashes
28. FloridaÂ
17% increase / +501 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 2,950 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 3,451 fatal crashes
29. ArizonaÂ
17% increase / +153 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 910 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1,063 fatal crashes
30. VirginiaÂ
17% increase / +132 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 774 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 906 fatal crashes
31. OklahomaÂ
17% increase / +97 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 584 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 681 fatal crashes
32. ColoradoÂ
17% increase / +94 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 544 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 638 fatal crashes
33. PennsylvaniaÂ
16% increase / +163 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 990 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 1,153 fatal crashes
34. New MexicoÂ
16% increase / +59 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 368 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 427 fatal crashes
35. IndianaÂ
15% increase / +112 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 751 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 863 fatal crashes
36. Rhode IslandÂ
15% increase / +8 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 53 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 61 fatal crashes
37. MissouriÂ
14% increase / +113 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 818 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 931 fatal crashes
38. KentuckyÂ
10% increase / +67 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 667 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 734 fatal crashes
39. WisconsinÂ
9% increase / +46 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 526 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 572 fatal crashes
40. MarylandÂ
8% increase / +38 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 484 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 522 fatal crashes
41. DelawareÂ
8% increase / +10 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 122 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 132 fatal crashes
42. KansasÂ
5% increase / +19 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 362 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 381 fatal crashes
43. IowaÂ
5% increase / +16 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 313 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 329 fatal crashes
44. West VirginiaÂ
4% increase / +10 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 247 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 257 fatal crashes
45. AlabamaÂ
3% increase / +29 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 856 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 885 fatal crashes
46. AlaskaÂ
-5% decrease / -5 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 62 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 59 fatal crashes
47. MaineÂ
-6% decrease / -6 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 143 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 135 fatal crashes
48. North DakotaÂ
-7% decrease / -7 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 91 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 85 fatal crashes
49. HawaiiÂ
-8% decrease / -8 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 102 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 94 fatal crashes
50. NebraskaÂ
-9% decrease / -9 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 212 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 192 fatal crashes
51. WyomingÂ
-15% decrease / -15 crashesÂ
- 2019 –Â 120 fatal crashesÂ
- 2021 –Â 102 fatal crashes
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How to Use This Information
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg considers the situation on U.S. roadways to be a national crisis and that the Department of Transportation is working to strengthen transportation safety throughout the country.Â
“Through our National Roadway Safety Strategy, we’re strengthening traffic safety across the country, and working toward a day when these preventable tragedies are a thing of the past,” Buttigieg said.
However, there are several steps that motorists can take to increase their own traffic safety and avoid a potentially deadly car accident. Â
- Always wear your safety belt (or wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle or bicycle)
- Avoid driving after using drugs or alcohol
- Don’t text and driveÂ
- Follow speed limits and other traffic control and safety signals
- Be aware of your surroundings and other road motorists
- Watch out for pedestrians
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Data & Methodology
This publication is based on an analysis of Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. Rankings are based on the percentage of increase in fatal collisions during the observation period.Â
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This story was produced by Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.