Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities And Fatality Rate for the First Quarter of 2026

September 11th, 2026

A statistical projection of traffic fatalities for the first quarter of 2026 shows an estimated 7,770 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, a decrease of about 4.3 percent compared to the 8,120 fatalities projected to have occurred in the first quarter of 2025 (Early Estimates of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rate in 2025, Report No. DOT HS 813 800), as shown in Table 1. The first quarter of 2026 represents the 16th consecutive quarterly decline in fatalities beginning with the second quarter of 2022. Preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the first quarter of 2026 increased by about 11.1 billion miles, or about a 1.4-percent increase. Table 1 also shows the fatality rates per 100 million VMT, by quarter and year. In the first quarter of 2026 the fatality rate dropped to 0.99 fatalities per 100 million VMT, down from the projected rate of 1.05 fatalities per 100 million VMT in the first quarter of 2025. If realized, the rate of 0.99 represents the second lowest first quarter fatality rate, compared to the 0.98 achieved in 2010 Q1 as well as 2011 Q1.