Are U.S. roads getting safer per mile driven?
Much safer than in 1980, though not safer than in the early 2010s. In 2024 there were 1.19 deaths for every 100 million miles driven, about a third of the 1980 rate of 3.35. The rate reached a low of 1.08 in 2014, jumped to 1.34 in 2020, when people drove less but deaths rose, and has fallen every year since 2021. Miles driven are the Federal Highway Administration's estimates.
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Source and date
- Data as of
- Published
The data
| Year | Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.35 |
| 1981 | 3.17 |
| 1982 | 2.76 |
| 1983 | 2.58 |
| 1984 | 2.57 |
| 1985 | 2.47 |
| 1986 | 2.51 |
| 1987 | 2.41 |
| 1988 | 2.32 |
| 1989 | 2.17 |
| 1990 | 2.08 |
| 1991 | 1.91 |
| 1992 | 1.75 |
| 1993 | 1.75 |
| 1994 | 1.73 |
| 1995 | 1.73 |
| 1996 | 1.69 |
| 1997 | 1.65 |
| 1998 | 1.58 |
| 1999 | 1.55 |
| 2000 | 1.53 |
| 2001 | 1.51 |
| 2002 | 1.51 |
| 2003 | 1.48 |
| 2004 | 1.44 |
| 2005 | 1.46 |
| 2006 | 1.42 |
| 2007 | 1.36 |
| 2008 | 1.26 |
| 2009 | 1.15 |
| 2010 | 1.11 |
| 2011 | 1.1 |
| 2012 | 1.14 |
| 2013 | 1.1 |
| 2014 | 1.08 |
| 2015 | 1.15 |
| 2016 | 1.19 |
| 2017 | 1.17 |
| 2018 | 1.14 |
| 2019 | 1.11 |
| 2020 | 1.34 |
| 2021 | 1.38 |
| 2022 | 1.34 |
| 2023 | 1.26 |
| 2024 | 1.19 |