-
Credit: manopjk | Thinkstock.com
Fatal accidents per 100 million miles driven
1.09 in 2013
1.26 in 2008
1.48 in 2003
1.58 in 1998
2005 fatal accident peak
- 43,510 people killed
- 39,252 accidents fatal accidents
- 2.99 trillion vehicle miles traveled
- 245.6 million registered vehicles
- 200.5 million licensed drivers
2013 most recent year for federal data
- 32,719 people killed
- 30,057 fatal accidents
- 2.99 trillion vehicle miles traveled
- 269.3 million registered vehicles
- 212.2 million licensed drivers
Women still less likely to die in car accidents than men
- 29.3% of fatal accidents victims in 2013
- 28.5% in 2008
- 31.6% in 2003
- 33.5% in 1998
2015 analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found:
7,700 fewer (estimated) driver deaths in 2012 due to vehicle design improvements
By the 2009 model year:
- Car driver fatality risk 51% lower than 1994 high
- Pickup driver fatality risk 61% lower than 1988 high
- SUV driver fatality risk 79% lower than 1988 high
Risk of driver death 2009 MY model passenger vehicles 8% lower than 2008 models, half that of 1984 models
Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Safety Council, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Cars getting safer despite increase in fatalities
Fatal accidents per-mile-driven have been falling for decades thanks to advanced safety systems to vehicles. However, people are driving more, so the total number of fatalities is on the rise, according to the National Safety Council. Federal regulators have held hearings to address the rising number of fatalities, and automakers are adding more safety features.