Driving is one of the most dangerous things most Americans do in their everyday lives. Behind the wheel of a vehicle that weighs more than 2 tons on average, drivers risk not only their own lives and those of their passengers but also the lives of everyone else on (or near) the road.
The usual suspects of speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence continue to put Americans at risk, although traffic deaths have declined steadily since peaking in 2021. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 36,640 people died in traffic crashes in 2025, a 6.7% decline from the year prior and the second-lowest traffic fatality rate in recorded history.
Where a person drives still matters. In 2024, the most recent year with state-level detail, the national rate was 1.19 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, but state rates ranged from under 0.6 to more than 1.8. Rural roads were about 50% deadlier per mile driven than urban ones.
NHTSA's early estimates for 2025 put the fatality rate at 1.10 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. "We are encouraged that deaths on our nation's roads continue to decline significantly," NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said in a December 2025 statement. "Under Secretary Duffy, we have strengthened our partnership with law enforcement, as they are critical to pulling dangerous drivers off the road and reducing the number of lives lost."
Still, the progress has limits. "America's traffic fatality rate remains high relative to many peer nations," NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said in an April 2025 statement, even as automakers continue to add increasingly advanced safety features to new vehicles.
Stacker used the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 Highway Statistics (the most recent available as of October 2026) to rank all 50 states and Washington, D.C. by traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Rates exclude deaths on roads of unknown type, while total fatality counts include them. Ties were broken using unrounded rates.
A.Ruiz // Shutterstock
1 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.59 per 100 million miles traveled (363 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.56 per 100 million miles traveled (332 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.06 per 100 million miles traveled (30 total fatalities)
Will Hart // Flickr
2 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.68 per 100 million miles traveled (52 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.61 per 100 million miles traveled (42 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 0.88 per 100 million miles traveled (7 total fatalities)
Pasteur // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.77 per 100 million miles traveled (277 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.54 per 100 million miles traveled (140 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.32 per 100 million miles traveled (135 total fatalities)
Pixabay
4 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.81 per 100 million miles traveled (477 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.50 per 100 million miles traveled (179 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.16 per 100 million miles traveled (276 total fatalities)
NEKVT // Shutterstock
5 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.82 per 100 million miles traveled (59 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.81 per 100 million miles traveled (16 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 0.80 per 100 million miles traveled (42 total fatalities)
mploscar // GoodFreePhotos
6 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.84 per 100 million miles traveled (670 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.76 per 100 million miles traveled (561 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.86 per 100 million miles traveled (100 total fatalities)
David Mark // Pixabay
7 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.86 per 100 million miles traveled (595 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.76 per 100 million miles traveled (254 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 0.95 per 100 million miles traveled (341 total fatalities)
FiledIMAGE // Shutterstock
8 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.90 per 100 million miles traveled (90 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.52 per 100 million miles traveled (17 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.08 per 100 million miles traveled (73 total fatalities)
Pixabay
9 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.91 per 100 million miles traveled (1,101 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.85 per 100 million miles traveled (812 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.11 per 100 million miles traveled (283 total fatalities)
Pixabay
10 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.94 per 100 million miles traveled (832 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.62 per 100 million miles traveled (337 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.44 per 100 million miles traveled (491 total fatalities)
Anthony Quintano // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.96 per 100 million miles traveled (102 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.02 per 100 million miles traveled (89 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 0.68 per 100 million miles traveled (13 total fatalities)
Winston Tan // Shutterstock
12 / 51- Fatality rate: 0.96 per 100 million miles traveled (133 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.70 per 100 million miles traveled (58 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.36 per 100 million miles traveled (75 total fatalities)
Tanner Daniels // GoodFreePhotos
13 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.00 per 100 million miles traveled (1,157 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.81 per 100 million miles traveled (661 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.43 per 100 million miles traveled (493 total fatalities)
Pixabay
14 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.00 per 100 million miles traveled (310 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.97 per 100 million miles traveled (269 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.22 per 100 million miles traveled (39 total fatalities)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
15 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.01 per 100 million miles traveled (578 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.04 per 100 million miles traveled (474 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 0.90 per 100 million miles traveled (102 total fatalities)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.04 per 100 million miles traveled (917 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.74 per 100 million miles traveled (459 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.71 per 100 million miles traveled (455 total fatalities)
Tony Walker // Pixabay
17 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.05 per 100 million miles traveled (356 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.91 per 100 million miles traveled (127 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.15 per 100 million miles traveled (229 total fatalities)
Pixabay
18 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.07 per 100 million miles traveled (339 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.90 per 100 million miles traveled (152 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.25 per 100 million miles traveled (186 total fatalities)
Airman 1st Class Connor J. Marth // U.S. Air Force
19 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.10 per 100 million miles traveled (107 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.00 per 100 million miles traveled (26 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.12 per 100 million miles traveled (80 total fatalities)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
20 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.10 per 100 million miles traveled (1,098 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.93 per 100 million miles traveled (636 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.45 per 100 million miles traveled (449 total fatalities)
Rudy Balasko // Shutterstock
21 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.13 per 100 million miles traveled (1,177 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.01 per 100 million miles traveled (799 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.51 per 100 million miles traveled (376 total fatalities)
Napa // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.15 per 100 million miles traveled (251 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.85 per 100 million miles traveled (87 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.41 per 100 million miles traveled (164 total fatalities)
cate_89 // Shuttertstock
23 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.15 per 100 million miles traveled (1,403 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.07 per 100 million miles traveled (908 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.32 per 100 million miles traveled (492 total fatalities)
Jan Kronsell // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.17 per 100 million miles traveled (955 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.99 per 100 million miles traveled (447 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.06 per 100 million miles traveled (390 total fatalities)
Pixabay
25 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.17 per 100 million miles traveled (177 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.66 per 100 million miles traveled (34 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.42 per 100 million miles traveled (142 total fatalities)
Pixabay
26 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.18 per 100 million miles traveled (1,127 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.13 per 100 million miles traveled (684 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.25 per 100 million miles traveled (438 total fatalities)
Pixabay
27 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.19 per 100 million miles traveled (238 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.68 per 100 million miles traveled (59 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.57 per 100 million miles traveled (179 total fatalities)
Pixabay
28 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.19 per 100 million miles traveled (3,876 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.06 per 100 million miles traveled (2,811 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.72 per 100 million miles traveled (1,051 total fatalities)
Pixabay
29 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.21 per 100 million miles traveled (730 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.98 per 100 million miles traveled (428 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.73 per 100 million miles traveled (291 total fatalities)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
30 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.24 per 100 million miles traveled (1,619 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.76 per 100 million miles traveled (604 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.98 per 100 million miles traveled (1,008 total fatalities)
Pixabay
31 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.25 per 100 million miles traveled (689 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.17 per 100 million miles traveled (454 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.46 per 100 million miles traveled (235 total fatalities)
FloridaStock // Shutterstock
32 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.26 per 100 million miles traveled (3,138 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.14 per 100 million miles traveled (2,386 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.59 per 100 million miles traveled (651 total fatalities)
Elvert Barnes // Flickr
33 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.27 per 100 million miles traveled (126 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.03 per 100 million miles traveled (74 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.88 per 100 million miles traveled (51 total fatalities)
Pixabay
34 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.27 per 100 million miles traveled (70 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.05 per 100 million miles traveled (33 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.57 per 100 million miles traveled (37 total fatalities)
Formulanone // Wikimedia Commons
35 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.32 per 100 million miles traveled (962 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.89 per 100 million miles traveled (390 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.96 per 100 million miles traveled (572 total fatalities)
Pixabay
36 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.33 per 100 million miles traveled (47 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.30 per 100 million miles traveled (46 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: N/A (no rural roads)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
37 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.35 per 100 million miles traveled (4,160 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.18 per 100 million miles traveled (2,657 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.80 per 100 million miles traveled (1,491 total fatalities)
Tim Roberts Photography // Shutterstock
38 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.36 per 100 million miles traveled (752 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.21 per 100 million miles traveled (414 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.62 per 100 million miles traveled (336 total fatalities)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
39 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.39 per 100 million miles traveled (645 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.15 per 100 million miles traveled (272 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.63 per 100 million miles traveled (372 total fatalities)
Connor 401 // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.40 per 100 million miles traveled (146 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.91 per 100 million miles traveled (29 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.61 per 100 million miles traveled (117 total fatalities)
Andriy Blokhin // Shutterstock
41 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.43 per 100 million miles traveled (409 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.28 per 100 million miles traveled (149 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.53 per 100 million miles traveled (260 total fatalities)
11photo // Shutterstock
42 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.44 per 100 million miles traveled (707 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.13 per 100 million miles traveled (265 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.70 per 100 million miles traveled (438 total fatalities)
Oregon Department of Transportation // Flickr
43 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.44 per 100 million miles traveled (538 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.12 per 100 million miles traveled (247 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.90 per 100 million miles traveled (291 total fatalities)
Annica Beckman // Pixabay
44 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.47 per 100 million miles traveled (417 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.28 per 100 million miles traveled (289 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.58 per 100 million miles traveled (92 total fatalities)
Tim Evanson // Flickr
45 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.49 per 100 million miles traveled (206 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.03 per 100 million miles traveled (42 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.66 per 100 million miles traveled (163 total fatalities)
Pixabay
46 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.49 per 100 million miles traveled (256 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.48 per 100 million miles traveled (110 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.47 per 100 million miles traveled (144 total fatalities)
Katherine Welles // Shutterstock
47 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.52 per 100 million miles traveled (1,197 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.45 per 100 million miles traveled (713 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.63 per 100 million miles traveled (483 total fatalities)
Jonathannsegal // Shutterstock
48 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.53 per 100 million miles traveled (603 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 0.91 per 100 million miles traveled (191 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 2.24 per 100 million miles traveled (411 total fatalities)
f11photo // Shutterstock
49 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.67 per 100 million miles traveled (1,038 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.45 per 100 million miles traveled (563 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 2.04 per 100 million miles traveled (475 total fatalities)
Mavrick // Shutterstock
50 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.74 per 100 million miles traveled (1,229 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.55 per 100 million miles traveled (806 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 1.96 per 100 million miles traveled (363 total fatalities)
Pixabay
51 / 51- Fatality rate: 1.81 per 100 million miles traveled (753 total fatalities)
- Urban fatality rate: 1.27 per 100 million miles traveled (218 total fatalities)
- Rural fatality rate: 2.06 per 100 million miles traveled (502 total fatalities)
Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Copy editing by Paris Close. Updating by Colby Droscher.
