USA Car Accident Statistics

USA Car Accident Statistics

Car accidents in the USA continue to be a major problem. In the USA, from 2000 to 2005, there were over 6 million car accidents with nearly 3 million people injured and more than 42,000 people killed in each one of those years. Over 100 people are killed every day in car accidents in the USA.

Here are some truly alarming car accident statistics according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They are:

• An estimated 24,050 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents during the first three quarters of 2011 (January-September), which was a 1.6% decline as opposed to 24,437 during the first three quarters in 2010
• 32,885 people were killed in car accidents in 2010, which was the lowest number since 1949
• More than 5.5 million car accidents occurred, over 2 million people were injured and almost 31,000 people were killed in 2009
• About 3,092 people were killed in car accidents that involved distracted drivers in 2010
• About 10,228 people were killed in car accidents that involved drunk drivers in 2010
• 32% of fatal car accidents involved alcohol-impaired drivers in 2009
• Almost 50% of all fatal car accidents took place where the posted speed limit was 55 mph or higher in 2009
• Around 31% (10,591) of fatalities in 2009 were caused by speeding
• Motorcycle fatalities increased to 4,502 in 2010
• An increase in pedestrian fatalities to 4,280 occurred in 2010
• 51% of the people who were killed in car accidents in 2010 were not wearing a seat belt
• Car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teenagers and children.

California and Texas had the most traffic fatalities in 2009

According to NHTSA, the state that had the most traffic fatalities in 2009 was California with 3,081 fatalities. California was followed by Texas, which was a close second with 3,071 fatalities. If you do not consider the District of Columbia which had 29 traffic fatalities, Alaska was the state in 2009 that had the fewest traffic fatalities with 64, followed by Vermont with 74. The three cities in California with the highest car accident statistics are:

• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• Fresno