US traffic death rate falls to lowest level since 2014
A destroyed Nissan Altima sits in the street after crashing in the East Village neighborhood of New York City on June 19, 2013. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - U.S. traffic deaths declined in the first half of 2026, bringing the fatality rate to its lowest level since 2014, according to federal estimates released Tuesday.
By the numbers:
An estimated 16,750 people died in traffic crashes during the first six months of the year, down 2.5% from 17,175 during the same period in 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The death toll was the lowest for the first half of a year since 2015.
The fatality rate dropped to 1.02 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. The country is on track for a fifth consecutive annual decline in traffic deaths after a sharp increase during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The pace of improvement slowed during the spring. Traffic deaths fell 5% in the first three months of 2026 compared with a year earlier, but declined just 0.2% in the second quarter.
The latest estimates follow a decline in 2025, when annual traffic deaths reached their lowest total since 2019. Last year’s fatality rate of 1.10 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was the second-lowest annual rate in U.S. history, NHTSA said.
Big picture view:
Bicyclist deaths remain a concern. The number killed rose 4% to 1,148 in 2025. Two years earlier, bicyclist deaths reached their highest total in more than four decades.
Traffic deaths surged during the pandemic, rising 10.8% in 2021 to 43,230 — the highest annual toll since 2005.
Experts said emptier roads and a perception that police were less likely to issue tickets contributed to riskier driving. Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving also played a role as some motorists drove after consuming those substances at home during the pandemic.
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The U.S. traffic fatality rate increased more sharply during the pandemic than rates in other developed nations.
A NHTSA study released in 2023 estimated that crashes cost society $340 billion, including $30 billion paid by taxpayers. When losses tied to quality of life were included, the estimated societal cost reached $1.37 trillion.
The Source: Reuters contributed to this report. Information in this story came from Reuters reporting on estimates released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including traffic death totals, fatality rates and bicyclist deaths. This story was from Los Angeles.