Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2021

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June 17th, 2022

A statistical projection of traffic fatalities for 2021 shows that an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide. This represents an increase of about 10.5 percent as compared to 38,824 fatalities reported in 2020. This also represents the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and the highest annual percentage increase in the recorded history of data in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) show that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2021 increased by about 325.2 billion miles, or about an 11.2-percent increase as compared to 2020.

Read the full fact sheet here.