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.
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.
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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.
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What Drove the Increase in Fatal Car Collisions?
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.Ā Ā
However, just as the impact of the pandemic was felt differently from region to region, so too was its effect on traffic safety.
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Deadly Car Crashes Increased the Most in These 25 States
During the observation period, fatal crashes increased in 45 states and the District of Columbia.Ā 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%).
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Only Six States Saw a Drop in Car 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).
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Comparing Crash Increases for Every State
How does your state measure up?Ā Below, we provide data for every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.Ā Ā
Ā
1. District of ColumbiaĀ Ā
82% increaseĀ / +18 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 22 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 40 fatal crashes
2. VermontĀ
57% increaseĀ / +25 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 44 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 69 fatal crashes
3. South DakotaĀ
49% increaseĀ / +43 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 88 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 131 fatal crashes
4. ArkansasĀ
35% increaseĀ / +164 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 467 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 631 fatal crashes
5. MinnesotaĀ
35% increaseĀ / +118 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 333 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 451 fatal crashes
6. MontanaĀ
34% increase / +56 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 166 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 222 fatal crashes
7. LouisianaĀ
30% increase / +206 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 681 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 887 fatal crashes
8. UtahĀ
30% increase / +68 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 225 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 293 fatal crashes
9. IllinoisĀ
29% increase / +272 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 938 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1210 fatal crashes
10. New JerseyĀ
27% increase / +144 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 525 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 669 fatal crashes
11. NevadaĀ
26% increase / +75 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 285 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 360 fatal crashes
12. New YorkĀ
25% increase / +223 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 876 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1,099 fatal crashes
13. MassachusettsĀ
24% increase / +76 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 321 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 397 fatal crashes
14. TexasĀ
23% increase / +774 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 3,294 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 4,068 fatal crashes
15. WashingtonĀ
22% increase / +109 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 494 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 603 fatal crashes
16. OregonĀ
22% increase / +101 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 451 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 552 fatal crashes
17. GeorgiaĀ
21% increase / +293 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 1,377 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1,670 fatal crashes
18. South CarolinaĀ
21% increase / +190 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 922 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1112 fatal crashes
19. ConnecticutĀ
21% increase / +50 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 233 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 283 fatal crashes
20. IdahoĀ
21% increase / +43 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 201 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 244 fatal crashes
21. CaliforniaĀ
20% increase / +667 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 3,316 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 3,983 fatal crashes
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22. North CarolinaĀ
20% increase / +251 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 1,284 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1,535 fatal crashes
23. OhioĀ
20% increase / +203 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 1,039 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1,242 fatal crashes
24. MississippiĀ
20% increase / +116 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 581 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 697 fatal crashes
25. MichiganĀ
19% increase / +170 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 902 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1,072 fatal crashes
26. TennesseeĀ
18% increase / +189 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 1,040 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1,229 fatal crashes
27. New HampshireĀ
18% increase / +16 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 90 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 106 fatal crashes
28. FloridaĀ
17% increase / +501 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 2,950 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 3,451 fatal crashes
29. ArizonaĀ
17% increase / +153 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 910 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1,063 fatal crashes
30. VirginiaĀ
17% increase / +132 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 774 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 906 fatal crashes
31. OklahomaĀ
17% increase / +97 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 584 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 681 fatal crashes
32. ColoradoĀ
17% increase / +94 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 544 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 638 fatal crashes
33. PennsylvaniaĀ
16% increase / +163 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 990 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 1,153 fatal crashes
34. New MexicoĀ
16% increase / +59 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 368 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 427 fatal crashes
35. IndianaĀ
15% increase / +112 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 751 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 863 fatal crashes
36. Rhode IslandĀ
15% increase / +8 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 53 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 61 fatal crashes
37. MissouriĀ
14% increase / +113 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 818 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 931 fatal crashes
38. KentuckyĀ
10% increase / +67 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 667 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 734 fatal crashes
39. WisconsinĀ
9% increase / +46 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 526 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 572 fatal crashes
40. MarylandĀ
8% increase / +38 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 484 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 522 fatal crashes
41. DelawareĀ
8% increase / +10 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 122 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 132 fatal crashes
42. KansasĀ
5% increase / +19 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 362 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 381 fatal crashes
43. IowaĀ
5% increase / +16 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 313 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 329 fatal crashes
44. West VirginiaĀ
4% increase / +10 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 247 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 257 fatal crashes
45. AlabamaĀ
3% increase / +29 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 856 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 885 fatal crashes
46. AlaskaĀ
-5% decrease / -5 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 62 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 59 fatal crashes
47. MaineĀ
-6% decrease / -6 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 143 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 135 fatal crashes
48. North DakotaĀ
-7% decrease / -7 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 91 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 85 fatal crashes
49. HawaiiĀ
-8% decrease / -8 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 102 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 94 fatal crashes
50. NebraskaĀ
-9% decrease / -9 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 212 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 192 fatal crashes
51. WyomingĀ
-15% decrease / -15 crashesĀ
- 2019 -Ā 120 fatal crashesĀ
- 2021 -Ā 102 fatal crashes
Ā
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.Ā
"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.Ā Ā
- 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 driveĀ
- Follow speed limits and other traffic control and safety signals
- Be aware of your surroundings and other road motorists
- Watch out for pedestrians
Ā
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.Ā Rankings are based on the percentage of increase in fatal collisions during the observation period.Ā
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This story was produced by Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.
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