Washington – September 15, 2026 -- An estimated 18,460 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes during the first half of 2026, a 2% decline from the revised first-half 2025 count, according to preliminary National Safety Council (NSC) data released Sept. 9, 2026. The drop occurred even as total miles driven rose 0.8% between January and June, pushing the estimated fatality rate to 1.12 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled -- down 3.4% year-over-year and 10.4% from 2024.
State-level fatality trends diverge sharply across the country
Thirteen states recorded double-digit decreases in traffic deaths, led by Hawaii (-30%), Illinois (-24%) and West Virginia (-24%), followed by Kansas (-21%), Oklahoma (-20%), Idaho (-18%), New Hampshire (-16%), Nevada (-14%), Maryland (-13%), Wisconsin (-13%), Tennessee (-12%), Utah (-11%) and Massachusetts (-10%).
Ten states and the District of Columbia saw increases of at least 10%. The District of Columbia posted the steepest rise at 133%, followed by Delaware (+24%), Rhode Island (+22%), Vermont (+18%), North Dakota (+18%), Kentucky (+18%), Alabama (+17%), Iowa (+16%), Wyoming (+14%), California (+14%) and Mississippi (+12%).
Impaired and speeding drivers remain dominant risk factors
NSC data for 2024 shows alcohol-impaired driving was a factor in 30% of traffic deaths, while speeding contributed to 29% of fatalities. Distracted driving, driver fatigue and failure to use seatbelts round out the leading preventable causes cited by the Council.
Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO and chair of the Road to Zero Coalition, said the national trend points in the right direction but that the work is far from complete, urging drivers to commit to safe behavior on every trip.
Road to Zero Coalition targets zero roadway deaths by 2050
The Coalition, established and led by NSC, partners with transportation safety stakeholders to promote the Safe System Approach -- covering safer people, vehicles, speeds, roads and post-crash care -- as part of its 2050 zero-fatality goal. NSC fatality estimates draw on National Center for Health Statistics data covering deaths within 100 days of a crash across both public and private roadways, including parking lots and driveways, and remain subject to revision as data matures.