U.S. traffic deaths drop 12% despite increase in miles traveled

The National Safety Council (NSC) recently released a report showing a nationwide decline in traffic fatalities, despite an increase in miles traveled.

The National Safety Council (NSC) recently released an analysis of traffic fatality data in the United States for 2025. The report shows a nationwide decline in fatalities, despite an increase in miles traveled, suggesting a positive trend.

According to the analysis, 37,810 traffic deaths were recorded in the United States in 2025, a figure that, while still high, represents a 12% decrease compared to 2024. This reduction coincided with an approximate 1% increase in miles traveled during the same period.

“The decline in roadway deaths is more than a number,” said Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the NSC. “It represents lives saved and families kept whole. It also shows that our sustained efforts to make roads safer are making a difference. We must continue working together, as advocates, policymakers, and communities, to build on this progress until no one else loses their life on our roadways.”

States with the largest decreases and increases in fatal traffic crashes

The NSC, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation, created the Road to Zero Coalition, the nation’s largest roadway safety alliance. The coalition brings together more than 650 organizations with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths on U.S. roadways by 2050.

According to the NSC, the reduction recorded in 2025 reflects the type of coordinated, multisector efforts that the Road to Zero Coalition continues to advance nationwide.

The data shared in the analysis were obtained through the National Center for Health Statistics and include information from both public and private roadways. The NSC reported that nine states and the District of Columbia experienced declines greater than 15% in traffic deaths in 2025. The states with the largest decreases were:

District of Columbia (-52%)
California (-40%)
Rhode Island (-29%)
Iowa (-24%)
Minnesota (-21%)
Mississippi (-19%)
New York (-18%)
Connecticut (-16%)
Maryland (-16%)
South Dakota (-16%)

Meanwhile, eight states recorded increases, with two exceeding a 10% rise:

Hawaii (+25%)
Wyoming (+12%)
Kansas (+10%)
New Mexico (+8%)
Idaho (+7%)
Louisiana (+5%)
Vermont (+5%)
Colorado (+3%)

Commitment to safety: eliminating traffic deaths by 2050

The NSC analysis also notes that dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, remain the leading causes of traffic deaths for all roadway users.

Reducing traffic fatalities requires coordinated government action based on the Safe System approach. This includes educating drivers, improving infrastructure, enhancing vehicle design, enacting legislation, and deploying evidence-based technologies.

For this reason, the NSC urges the DOT to maintain its commitment to prioritizing collaboration with transportation sector stakeholders dedicated to achieving zero deaths and serious injuries by 2050. The NSC concludes that by aligning federal, state, and local resources, requiring necessary vehicle technologies, and supporting critical research, the DOT can make a lasting impact on roadway safety.