Traffic Crashes Claimed Fewer Lives in First Half of 2025, NSC Estimates

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2025 -- Traffic crashes claimed 13% fewer lives in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, preliminary analysis by the National Safety Council shows. An estimated 18,720 people died in traffic crashes from January to June, even as Americans drove 0.8% more miles.

"This decrease in traffic deaths represents tremendous progress and shows what's possible when states and communities commit to proven safety strategies," said Mark Chung, executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy at NSC. "We're seeing the results of states and localities implementing the Safe System Approach – focusing on safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles, safer people and better post-crash care. This success demonstrates that when we work together using evidence-based solutions, we can save lives and make all road users safer."

The results varied widely across states. Ten states and the District of Columbia achieved decreases of 20% or more: District of Columbia led with a -67% reduction, followed by California (-43%), Connecticut (-34%), Mississippi (-34%), Alaska (-31%), Delaware (-25%), Alabama (-21%), Kentucky (-21%), Vermont (-21%), Maryland (-20%) and Minnesota (-20%).

Four states, however, saw increases of 20% or more in traffic crash deaths: Hawaii (+46%), Oklahoma (+32%), Kansas (+30%) and West Virginia (+21%).

The rate dropped to 1.15 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled – a 13.5% decrease from 2024 and 2023.

While this progress is encouraging, sustained improvement requires continued commitment to the Safe System Approach by all stakeholders to support and expand these successful local efforts.

NSC urges the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a comprehensive safety action plan with clear milestones. This plan should address the higher risks faced by vulnerable road users through coordinated efforts with other agencies at federal and state levels. Additionally, this plan should build on proven strategies — like those used in the Safe System Approach — to eliminate risky driving behaviors. NSC also calls on the Department to finish its rulemakings related to advanced impaired driving prevention technology, crash avoidance technology and automatic emergency braking in heavy vehicles. These technologies have the potential to save countless lives.

Motor vehicle fatality estimates are subject to slight fluctuations as data matures. NSC uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics to include deaths occurring within 100 days of the crash and on both public and private roadways — such as parking lots and driveways. 

Supplemental estimate information, including estimates for each state, can be found here.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America's leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for over 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.