Despite a slight decline 
in roadway deaths last year, traffic fatalities in the United States remain at crisis levels, according to new estimates from the National Safety Council. The organization reported that 44,680 people died in preventable crashes in 2024, a marginal drop of less than 1 percent from the previous year—a difference of just 82 deaths.
“There is still critical work needed to make our roadways safer,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy at the National Safety Council. “Without significant changes, potential danger will continue to pose ongoing risks to the millions of Americans who rely on our roads daily.”
The data shows stark regional disparities. Six states and the District of Columbia saw sharp increases of 10 percent or more in traffic fatalities: Maine recorded a 38 percent jump, California 34 percent, Alaska 23 percent, Oklahoma 21 percent, Minnesota 14 percent, New Jersey 12 percent, and the District of Columbia 11 percent. By contrast, ten states saw significant declines, including Rhode Island (-26 percent), Wyoming (-25 percent), and North Dakota (-20 percent).
A Persistent and Preventable Crisis
Experts point to a range of risky behaviors contributing to roadway deaths. Distracted driving remains a major concern, and as the country prepares to mark Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, the National Safety Council is urging drivers to remain focused behind the wheel. Other dangerous habits—speeding, impaired driving, and reckless maneuvering—continue to endanger road users.
To address the crisis, the Council is pushing for greater adoption of life-saving technologies, including speed safety cameras, intelligent speed assistance, and automatic emergency braking. Advocates argue that such tools, combined with improved roadway design and stronger enforcement, could significantly reduce fatalities.
The Safe System Approach, a strategy that has successfully reduced deaths in other nations, offers a comprehensive framework for addressing the problem. It emphasizes five core areas: safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles, safer people, and improved post-crash care. The National Safety Council has called for a coordinated government response, urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a national strategy with clear milestones to protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
The Long Road to Safer Streets
Reducing traffic deaths, experts say, will require collaboration among federal agencies, including the Departments of Labor, Justice, and Health and Human Services. Such efforts could strengthen protections for roadway workers, improve enforcement of traffic laws, and expand access to substance use treatment.
The National Safety Council, which has tracked traffic fatality estimates since 1913, compiles its data using figures from the National Center for Health Statistics, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unlike some government reports, its estimates account for deaths that occur within 100 days of a crash, including those on private property such as parking lots and driveways.
With nearly 45,000 lives lost on American roads last year, the numbers paint a sobering picture. Without swift and decisive action, advocates warn, the nation’s roads will remain as perilous as ever.