These 25 states have seen the biggest increase in fatal auto collisions in the US

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. experienced an unprecedented increase in fatal traffic collisions. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, fatal crashes increased by nearly 17% during the first two years of the pandemic, among the largest two-year increase in history. This sharp rise was punctuated by the deadliest year since 1990, with 39,508 fatal collisions in 2021 alone.  

While early estimates for 2022 show that the fatal collisions and roadway deaths have leveled off, they have yet to return to prepandemic levels and remain at historic highs. 

Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi examined three years of fatal collision data from the NHTSA (2019 - 2021) to find out which states experienced the biggest changes and, ultimately, where motorists may be at increased risk of being killed in a crash.

What Drove the Increase in Fatal Car Collisions?

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), during the COVID-19 pandemic years, more drivers may have engaged in riskier behavior such as failure to wear seat belts, speeding, and driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. NHTSA data seems to agree with that position. Notably, collisions involving commercial trucks, pedestrians, speed, and alcohol increased sharply between 2019 and 2021.  

However, just as the impact of the pandemic was felt differently from region to region, so too was its effect on traffic safety.

Deadly Car Crashes Increased the Most in These 25 States

During the observation period, fatal crashes increased in 45 states and the District of Columbia.  Of these 25 that had increases greater than the national average of 18%, D.C. led by an increase of 82%, followed by Vermont (57%) and South Dakota (49%).

Only Six States Saw a Drop in Car Fatalities

As previously mentioned, only six states experienced a decrease in fatal crashes during this time period. Wyoming led the way with a 15% decrease from 2019, followed by Nebraska (9% decrease), Hawaii (8% decrease), North Dakota (7% decrease), Maine (6% decrease), and Alaska (5% decrease).

Comparing Crash Increases for Every State

How does your state measure up?  Below, we provide data for every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.  
 

1. District of Columbia  

82% increase  / +18 crashes 

• 2019 -  22 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  40 fatal crashes

2. Vermont 

57% increase  / +25 crashes 

• 2019 -  44 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  69 fatal crashes

3. South Dakota 

49% increase  / +43 crashes 

• 2019 -  88 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  131 fatal crashes

4. Arkansas 

35% increase  / +164 crashes 

• 2019 -  467 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  631 fatal crashes

5. Minnesota 

35% increase  / +118 crashes 

• 2019 -  333 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  451 fatal crashes

6. Montana 

34% increase / +56 crashes 

• 2019 -  166 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  222 fatal crashes

7. Louisiana 

30% increase / +206 crashes 

• 2019 -  681 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  887 fatal crashes

8. Utah 

30% increase / +68 crashes 

• 2019 -  225 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  293 fatal crashes

9. Illinois 

29% increase / +272 crashes 

• 2019 -  938 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1210 fatal crashes

10. New Jersey 

27% increase / +144 crashes 

• 2019 -  525 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  669 fatal crashes

11. Nevada 

26% increase / +75 crashes 

• 2019 -  285 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  360 fatal crashes

12. New York 

25% increase / +223 crashes 

• 2019 -  876 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1,099 fatal crashes

13. Massachusetts 

24% increase / +76 crashes 

• 2019 -  321 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  397 fatal crashes

14. Texas 

23% increase / +774 crashes 

• 2019 -  3,294 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  4,068 fatal crashes

15. Washington 

22% increase / +109 crashes 

• 2019 -  494 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  603 fatal crashes

16. Oregon 

22% increase / +101 crashes 

• 2019 -  451 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  552 fatal crashes

17. Georgia 

21% increase / +293 crashes 

• 2019 -  1,377 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1,670 fatal crashes

18. South Carolina 

21% increase / +190 crashes 

• 2019 -  922 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1112 fatal crashes

19. Connecticut 

21% increase / +50 crashes 

• 2019 -  233 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  283 fatal crashes

20. Idaho 

21% increase / +43 crashes 

• 2019 -  201 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  244 fatal crashes

21. California 

20% increase / +667 crashes 

• 2019 -  3,316 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  3,983 fatal crashes

More on the deadliest highways in California

22. North Carolina 

20% increase / +251 crashes 

• 2019 -  1,284 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1,535 fatal crashes

23. Ohio 

20% increase / +203 crashes 

• 2019 -  1,039 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1,242 fatal crashes

24. Mississippi 

20% increase / +116 crashes 

• 2019 -  581 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  697 fatal crashes

25. Michigan 

19% increase / +170 crashes 

• 2019 -  902 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1,072 fatal crashes

26. Tennessee 

18% increase / +189 crashes 

• 2019 -  1,040 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1,229 fatal crashes

27. New Hampshire 

18% increase / +16 crashes 

• 2019 -  90 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  106 fatal crashes

28. Florida 

17% increase / +501 crashes 

• 2019 -  2,950 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  3,451 fatal crashes

29. Arizona 

17% increase / +153 crashes 

• 2019 -  910 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1,063 fatal crashes

30. Virginia 

17% increase / +132 crashes 

• 2019 -  774 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  906 fatal crashes

31. Oklahoma 

17% increase / +97 crashes 

• 2019 -  584 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  681 fatal crashes

32. Colorado 

17% increase / +94 crashes 

• 2019 -  544 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  638 fatal crashes

33. Pennsylvania 

16% increase / +163 crashes 

• 2019 -  990 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  1,153 fatal crashes

34. New Mexico 

16% increase / +59 crashes 

• 2019 -  368 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  427 fatal crashes

35. Indiana 

15% increase / +112 crashes 

• 2019 -  751 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  863 fatal crashes

36. Rhode Island 

15% increase / +8 crashes 

• 2019 -  53 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  61 fatal crashes

37. Missouri 

14% increase / +113 crashes 

• 2019 -  818 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  931 fatal crashes

38. Kentucky 

10% increase / +67 crashes 

• 2019 -  667 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  734 fatal crashes

39. Wisconsin 

9% increase / +46 crashes 

• 2019 -  526 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  572 fatal crashes

40. Maryland 

8% increase / +38 crashes 

• 2019 -  484 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  522 fatal crashes

41. Delaware 

8% increase / +10 crashes 

• 2019 -  122 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  132 fatal crashes

42. Kansas 

5% increase / +19 crashes 

• 2019 -  362 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  381 fatal crashes

43. Iowa 

5% increase / +16 crashes 

• 2019 -  313 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  329 fatal crashes

44. West Virginia 

4% increase / +10 crashes 

• 2019 -  247 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  257 fatal crashes

45. Alabama 

3% increase / +29 crashes 

• 2019 -  856 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  885 fatal crashes

46. Alaska 

-5% decrease / -5 crashes 

• 2019 -  62 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  59 fatal crashes

47. Maine 

-6% decrease / -6 crashes 

• 2019 -  143 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  135 fatal crashes

48. North Dakota 

-7% decrease / -7 crashes 

• 2019 -  91 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  85 fatal crashes

49. Hawaii 

-8% decrease / -8 crashes 

• 2019 -  102 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  94 fatal crashes

50. Nebraska 

-9% decrease / -9 crashes 

• 2019 -  212 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  192 fatal crashes

51. Wyoming 

-15% decrease / -15 crashes 

• 2019 -  120 fatal crashes 
• 2021 -  102 fatal crashes
   

How to Use This Information

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg considers the situation on U.S. roadways to be a national crisis and that the Department of Transportation is working to strengthen transportation safety throughout the country. 

"Through our National Roadway Safety Strategy, we're strengthening traffic safety across the country, and working toward a day when these preventable tragedies are a thing of the past," Buttigieg said.

However, there are several steps that motorists can take to increase their own traffic safety and avoid a potentially deadly car accident.  

• Always wear your safety belt (or wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle or bicycle)
• Avoid driving after using drugs or alcohol
• Don't text and drive 
• Follow speed limits and other traffic control and safety signals
• Be aware of your surroundings and other road motorists
• Watch out for pedestrians
   

Data & Methodology

This publication is based on an analysis of Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021.  Rankings are based on the percentage of increase in fatal collisions during the observation period. 
 

This story was produced by Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.