National Safety Council Estimates 21,150 People Died on U.S. Roads in First Half of 2023

Key Facts

Preliminary estimates released by the National Safety Council show traffic deaths in the U.S. are on a slight decline through the first six months of 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022.
NSC analysis also shows the decrease in deaths occurred even as mileage increased 2.3% through the first six months of 2023 compared to 2022.
As the nation looks forward to the rest of the year—historically, the deadlier half of the year—the National Safety Council implores employers, policymakers, community leaders and individuals to come together across public and private sectors to prioritize safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles, safer people and better post-crash care to save lives on the path towards zero traffic fatalities in the United States.
NSC collects fatality data every month from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics, so that deaths occurring within one year of the crash and on both public and private roadways—such as parking lots and driveways—are included in the estimates.