U.S. Road Fatalities Drop Despite Rise in Self-Driving Car Crashes
Road safety in the U.S. has seen a notable shift in recent years. While self-driving car crashes have risen, overall fatalities have decreased significantly. Urban areas, despite higher non-fatal incidents, often have lower fatality rates per accident compared to rural regions.
In 2024, the U.S. saw a 3.8% decrease in road fatalities compared to the previous year. This positive trend continued into 2025, with an estimated 13% drop in motor-vehicle deaths in the first half of the year. Enhanced vehicle safety technologies, improved road infrastructure, and stricter traffic law enforcement have been credited with contributing to this decline. Notably, truck accidents have been on a downward trajectory for three consecutive years after peaking in 2021.
Distracted driving remains a significant concern. In 2023, 3,275 fatalities were attributed to distracted drivers, with 80% of car accidents caused by this factor. Vulnerable road users are also at risk, with about 1 in 5 of the fatalities involving distracted drivers not being in vehicles. Among age groups, drivers aged 15-20 have the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes, with 8% of this age group found to be distracted in such incidents.
While self-driving car crashes have increased, overall road safety in the U.S. has improved, as indicated by the consistent decline in fatalities. Targeted interventions, such as those aimed at commercial transportation and distracted driving, have shown promising results. However, continued efforts are needed to address the persistent issue of distracted driving, particularly among younger drivers.
