Auto Crash Fatalities, Injuries in Decline Nationally

A report released in December 2014 by federal transportation officials shows that motor vehicle crash fatalities decreased in the United States in 2013 compared with the previous year.

The report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 32,719 people in died in traffic crashes during 2013, down from 33,782 in 2012. The number of people injured on U.S. roadways also decreased in 2013, falling from 2.4 to 2.3 million injured people.

Almost all segments of the population saw declines in vehicle related fatalities and injuries, including passenger vehicle occupants, large-truck occupants, pedestrians and young drivers.

The number of motorcyclists who died in crashes in 2013 was down nationally more than 6 percent from 2012.

While the number of vehicle-related fatalities and injuries fell in 2013 compared to 2012, the total the total number of crashes increased slightly – primarily due to a nearly 3 percent increase in crashes that resulted in property damage but no injuries.

Alcohol and Driving

Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities decreased nationwide by 2.5 percent from 2012 to 2013 and accounted for 31 percent overall traffic fatalities in 2013.

Thirty-one states experienced declines in the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2013, with Ohio seeing the largest drop – 118 fewer than in the previous year.

Seventeen states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico saw increases in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2013. Texas had the largest increase in alcohol-related crash fatalities — 47.

The greatest decrease in the number of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes from 2012 to 2013 was among motorcycle riders, dropping by 8.3 percent or by 117 riders. Drivers of large trucks were the only group to show an increase in the number of alcohol-impaired crashes.

With the exception of 2012, the national decline in overall vehicle-related deaths and injuries is a continuation of a trend that began in 2006, according to NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).