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Figures as of November 14, 2026, from each chart's current data.

Chart 1 of 1 · Road safety

Are U.S. roads getting safer per mile driven?

The chart's answer: In 2024 there were 1.19 deaths for every 100 million miles driven, down from 3.35 in 1980. The lowest rate was 1.08 in 2014; it jumped to 1.34 in 2020, when people drove less but deaths rose. Miles driven are the Federal Highway Administration's estimates.

Key numbers (Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles)

Newest: 1.19 in 2024
First on the chart: 3.35 in 1980
1980 to 2024: down 2.16 (-64%)
Biggest rise from one point to the next: 0.23, 2019 to 2020
Biggest drop from one point to the next: 0.41, 1981 to 1982
Highest: 3.35 (1980)
Lowest: 1.08 (2014)
1980 is about 3.1 times 2014
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and FHWA Highway Statistics (table VM-2), data as of December 31, 2024

Questions

About what fraction of the 1980 rate is the rate in the latest year?
- Newest: 1.19 in 2024
- 1980: 3.35
In 2020 people drove less, but the rate went up. What could explain that?
- 2020: 1.34
Why is deaths per mile a fairer way to compare years than the total number of deaths?

Open question: answers will vary. Look for answers that use the chart's numbers and source.

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and FHWA Highway Statistics (table VM-2) (Public domain (U.S. government work)) · Data as of Dec 31, 2024 · chart.ly/charts/traffic-deaths-per-mile-driven

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