Some 44,800 road traffic fatalities occurred in the United States in 2023, and projections estimate 2024 fatalities could drop to 44,700. Motor vehicle crashes and drug overdoses are the leading causes of death among those under the age of 55 in the United States.

In 2023, China recorded ****** fatalities in traffic accidents across the country. The number of fatalities has increased from ****** in the previous year. Road traffic in China The number of road traffic fatalities in China varies greatly from region to region. Guangdong and Hubei had been the provinces with the highest number of traffic fatalities. All located in the eastern coastal area of China, they had also been the regions with the most traffic accidents in 2023. On the contrary, only a small number of fatalities had been reported in central and western regions of China. Reasons for this imbalance may be found in less traffic volume as well as the existence of fewer urban congested areas.Since 2016, the number of casualties and fatalities from traffic accidents in China has increased significantly, reaching ******* injuries and ****** deaths in 2023. Nevertheless, traffic accidents have emerged as one of the leading causes of death in China. The primary reasons may be unregulated road works and a lack of awareness among Chinese drivers. The development of neither road infrastructure nor driving behavior in China had been able to keep up with the increasing number of traffic participants and registered cars. As of 2003, only ********** vehicles had been registered in China, whereas by 2019 that number had skyrocketed to ************** cars. In 2023 alone, the number of newly registered vehicles in China had amounted to around ************ cars.

In 2024, Japan recorded around 2.66 thousand fatalities in road traffic accidents, down from about 4.12 thousand in 2015. Consequently, the number of fatalities on Japanese streets continued their decline.

The number of traffic accident deaths in Germany has decreased considerably in the last decade, compared to the 1990s, and especially the 1960s and 1970s. Around 2,839 deaths were recorded in 2023. Recording these numbers takes on particular significance in the country that is home to the Autobahn and some of the most famous cars in the world. Staying safe The reduction of road traffic deaths in Germany may be due to a number of positive factors with long-term potential: progressive automotive engineering, increased regulation and legislation regarding road traffic and driving, as well as expanded driving safety resources and training. Another reason may simply be less people owning cars, and therefore less drivers being out on the road. Traffic accidents happen for various reasons, be it a bad combination of circumstances or the human factor. Certain choices and consumption habits significantly increase the risk of a car accident, a common example being driving after drinking. Into the future The addition of e-scooters to German city traffic in particular, alongside various vehicles, motorcycles and bikes in often already crowded areas, poses a new challenge for preventing accidents and fatalities. There were over 8,400 injuries recorded in 2023 which were the result of an e-scooter crash. That same year, 21 fatalities also occurred following an e-scooter accident. Increasing mobility and various transportation modes attached to it will definitely keep the issue of road safety on the map.

In 2022, the number of fatalities in road traffic accidents in Indonesia was approximately ***** thousand persons, indicating an increase compared to the previous year. During the time under consideration, the highest number of fatalities was reached in 2017, with over ** thousand persons dying in traffic accidents.

Between 2006 and 2020, road fatalities in Sweden had more than halved. The lowest figure of such fatalities was recorded in 2020 at 206. These figures stand in contrast to an increase in the volume of passenger road transport. In 2019, people travelled a combined 125.4 billion kilometers. Casualty figures also in decline

Much like road fatalities, the number of road traffic casualties declined over the past decade. A total of roughly 18,500 individuals had reportedly been injured in 2018, with figures 26 percent lower than eleven years prior. This was despite a slight increase in the past three years.

Denmark records highest fatality numbers

Among Scandinavian countries, Denmark recorded the greatest number of road traffic related fatalities, which amounted to 32 per million inhabitants. By comparison, fatality figures were lowest in Norway at 20 fatal accidents per million inhabitants.

The number of road traffic fatalities per one million inhabitants in the United States was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 18.5 deaths (+13.81 percent). After the tenth consecutive increasing year, the number is estimated to reach 152.46 deaths and therefore a new peak in 2029. Depicted here are the estimated number of deaths which occured in relation to road traffic. They are set in relation to the population size and depicted as deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of road traffic fatalities per one million inhabitants in countries like Mexico and Canada.

The number of road-traffic related injuries in the United States has decreased by roughly 17 percent between 2019 and 2020, whereas fatalities increased by almost 8 percent. Between 2010 and 2020, road traffic injuries in the United States grew by nearly 34,000 incidents to some 2.28 million road traffic related injuries in 2020. Over the same period, fatalities also increased by about 5,800. This follows two decades of a general decrease in the amount of traffic-related injuries.

Why are traffic injuries increasing? In the United States, male drivers are behind the wheel in the majority of fatal crashes. Though speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol are often to blame, neither have led to a rise in traffic fatalities in the U.S.: instead, cellphones are primarily the cause. Smartphone ownership has become almost omnipresent in the U.S. since 2010, and drivers are likely to be distracted by texting and using social media. Young drivers are the ones accounting for the highest share of cellphone use fatalities.

Changes in mobility Another reason why fatal accidents are rising in number is that non-occupants’ exposure to risk is also increasing. As residents become more encouraged to walk or cycle in cities, the extra time amongst traffic has led to higher rates of fatalities and injuries amongst cyclists and pedestrians. Lastly, poor infrastructure and lack of awareness by motorists is prevalent in large parts of the United States.

The number of fatal road traffic injuries in Germany increased by 226 traffic fatalities (+8.82 percent) since the previous year. In total, the number of fatal road traffic injuries amounted to 2,788 traffic fatalities in 2022. This increase was preceded by a declining number of fatal road traffic injuries.Road fatalities refer to the number of people killed during a road accident involving one or more motor vehicles. These deaths can include drivers, passengers, other road users, and pedestrians who died on publicly-accessible roadways.

In 2023, the number of deaths caused by traffic accidents amounted to approximately 11,628 cases in Vietnam. This indicated a decrease from the previous year. From 2013 to 2021, the number of traffic deaths has gradually declined, then increased dramatically in 2022, with the number of deaths due to crashes double than that in 2021.

Nearly ***** road fatalities were recorded on French roads in 2023, down from around ***** deaths in 2022. Road fatalities had fluctuated in France, with the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns helping to bring down the fatality rate in 2020. Alcohol- and speed-related offenses in France Yet, according to a survey conducted by the French National Inter-Ministerial Road Safety Observatory in 2014, ** percent of the respondents believed that not enough was done to prevent and control drink driving. Further, ** percent of those surveyed also believed that police enforcement against drug consumption on the road was lacking. Nevertheless, the same institution reported that, in 2015, ten percent of all the road offenses recorded more than 100 times were related to alcohol. Offenses related to speed control accounted for almost ** percent of all the road offenses. The European perception of road fatalities On the other side of the Rhine, in Germany, where the consumption of alcohol seems to be more widespread – with around 137 liters of alcoholic beverage per capita in 2014 - the authorities seem to have managed to reduce the number of road traffic fatalities more efficiently. It went from ***** deaths reported in 2006 to ***** deaths in 2022. From a European perspective, ** percent of Europeans believed that driving under alcohol or drugs influence was the main general cause of fatal accidents on the road in their respective countries.

In 2023, about **** million deaths were reported in the United States. This figure is an increase from **** million deaths reported in 1990, and from **** in 2019. This sudden increase can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, the highest number of fatalities in traffic accidents occurred among Swedes between 15 and 44 years, with 88 cases. In comparison, there were 52 registered fatalities among Swedes aged 75 years or more. Only five people between one and 14 died in traffic accidents in Sweden in 2022. The most common cause of death in Sweden in 2022 was diseases in the circulatory system.

The number of road accidents per one million inhabitants in the United States was forecast to continuously decrease between 2024 and 2029 by in total 2,490.4 accidents (-14.99 percent). After the eighth consecutive decreasing year, the number is estimated to reach 14,118.78 accidents and therefore a new minimum in 2029. Depicted here are the estimated number of accidents which occured in relation to road traffic. They are set in relation to the population size and depicted as accidents per one million inhabitants.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of road accidents per one million inhabitants in countries like Mexico and Canada.

In the period of consideration, the number of road traffic fatalities in Romania peaked in 2008, totaling 3,065 deaths. Despite minor oscillations, the number of victims recorded a declining trend. Thus, by 2020 road traffic fatalities reached 1,646. This represented a decrease of roughly 40 percent compared to 2008. By contrast, the number of non-fatal road traffic injuries decreased to almost 28 thousand in 2020.

 Main causes of road traffic accidents  

In Romania, the main cause of road traffic accidents was speeding. At the same time, drinking among drivers and pedestrians who were jaywalking was still an important concern in 2019. As a consequence, there were 1,452 male car drivers under the influence of alcohol involved in car accidents in which at least one person was injured. Just as important, more than six thousand car accidents in 2019 happened because of collisions due to crossing or turning.

Crimes against road traffic safety 

Compared to the last decade, in Romania, as well as worldwide, there has been a change regarding the types of crimes committed. As a result, traditional crimes such as offenses against one’s physical and mental integrity, along with offenses against one’s property decreased. Instead, corruption offenses and crimes against road traffic safety became more common. In 2018, crimes against safety on public roads accounted for 37.6 percent of the total share of criminal law convictions.

As of 2023, the highest number of fatalities in road traffic accidents in Finland was reported in the age group of 74 years and older, with 34 casualties. There were 33 road casualties reported in the age group of 15 to 24 years, followed by 27 casualties in the age group of 55 to 64 years.

Motor-vehicle deaths in the United States have decreased greatly since the 1970s and 1980s. In 2023, there were around **** deaths from motor vehicles per 100,000 population, compared to a rate of **** deaths per 100,000 in 1970. Laws requiring drivers and passengers to wear safety belts and advancements in safety technology in vehicles are major drivers for these reductions. Motor-vehicle accidents in the U.S. Americans spend a significant amount of time behind the wheel. Many cities lack convenient and reliable public transportation and, especially in rural areas, cars are a necessary means of transportation. In 2020, August was the month with the highest number of fatal crashes, followed by September and June. The deadliest time of day for fatal vehicle crashes is between * and * p.m., most likely due to the after-work rush hour and more people who are under the influence of alcohol. Drinking and driving among youth Drinking and driving remains a relevant problem across the United States and can be especially problematic among younger people. In 2023, around *** percent of those aged 21 to 25 years in the United States reported driving under the influence of alcohol in the preceding year. Furthermore, around ***** percent of those aged 16 to 20 drove after drinking within the past year.

Road accidents have been a major cause for concern across the Indian subcontinent. In 2022 alone, the country reported nearly *** thousand fatalities due to road accidents. Each year, about ***** to **** percent of the country’s GDP was invested in road accidents. Notably, while India has about *** percent of the world’s vehicle population, it also accounted for about *** percent of the global road traffic incidents. Almost ** percent of the accidents involved young Indians. Cases and causesTwo-wheelers had the maximum involvement in fatal road accidents across the country in 2018. A major portion of the accidents that year occurred at T-junctions. Over speeding has been a cause for concern throughout the country regardless of day or nighttime. Moreover, fast and risky maneuvers and illegal street races on roads and highways not designed for the purpose created significant trouble for the police. Over ** percent of the accidents occurred on straight roads. Additionally, state highways had a share of about ** percent of the total road accidents in 2018. Future scenarioRoughly around 17 accident-related deaths occur across India every hour. Fewer cops and empty roads at night, and sometimes even during the day seem to enable motorists to do away with the traffic rules. However, efforts were made to reduce these discrepancies. The police had equipped themselves with night vision speed guns to identify the culprits. Over speeding fine was increased in the amendment of the Motor Vehicles Act as well. The road network has played a crucial role in India’s economic development and the government is likely to continue to invest resources in making road safety a vital component of everyday commute.

In 2022, there were 116 traffic fatalities in Norway. The number of traffic fatalities fell during the COVID-19 pandemic as restrictions meant that people were driving less in 2020 and 2021. Over the past decade, the highest number of traffic related deaths was registered in 2013 when 187 individuals lost their lives.

In 2022, the number of fatalities reported throughout the public transit networks in the U.S. amounted to 339 deaths, a year-over-year increase of around five percent. This represented the highest number of fatalities in U.S. public transportation in the past decade. In 2020, fatalities remained high despite the COVID-19 movement restrictions, which brought the transit ridership to a historic low.