Over 44,400 Lives Lost Due to US Vehicle Crashes in 2023

There were about 44,450 motor vehicle fatalities in the United States in 2023—down from 2022 but still very high—according to a preliminary analysis released by the National Safety Council (NSC).

Fatalities were down 4% from 2022 but still up 13.6% when compared to 2019

Speeding, distracted and impaired driving are factors in the preventable crashes and deaths, the NSC said.

“The most dangerous thing most people in our country do in a single day is use the U.S. roadway system. This public health crisis is an atrocity that must continue to be addressed,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of roadway practice at NSC, adding that the “current system was not designed with the safety of all road users in mind.”

According to NSC’s analysis, 12 states in 2023 reported a decrease in motor vehicle fatalities of 10% or more: Alaska, Maine, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, Utah, Georgia, New York and Louisiana.

The District of Columbia, Rhode Island, Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, North Dakota, Maryland and Kentucky each recorded increases of 10% or more in motor vehicle fatalities. Fatalities rose .

NSC, which has kept statistics on traffic fatalities since 1913, noted that the estimates are subject to change as data mature.