There were 37,461 people killed in crashes on U.S. roadways during 2016, an increase from 35,485 in 2015. The 5.6-percent increase is lower than the 8.4-percent increase from 2014 to 2015. The largest percentage increase prior to the 8.4-percent increase was the 9.4-percent increase from 1963 to 1964. Fatalities increased from 2015 to 2016 in almost all segments of the population–passenger vehicle occupants, occupants of large trucks, pedestrians, pedal-cyclists, motorcyclists, alcohol-impaired driving, male/female, and daytime/night-time. There were 1,976 more fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in 2016 than in 2015–a 5.6-percent increase. The number of passenger vehicle (passenger cars and light trucks) occupant fatalities is at its highest since 2008. • Passenger car occupant fatalities increased by 651, a 5.1-percent increase. • SUV occupant fatalities increased by 219, a 5.2-percent increase. • Van occupant fatalities increased by 95, an 8.4-percent increase. • Pickup truck occupant fatalities increased by 68, a 1.5-percent increase. Motorcyclist fatalities increased by 257 (a 5.1-percent increase), the largest number of fatalities since 2008. Pedestrian fatalities increased by 492 (a 9.0-percent increase), and are at their highest number since 1990. Pedal-cyclist fatalities increased by 11 (a 1.3-percent increase), and are at their highest number since 1991. Alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities increased by 1.7 percent, from 10,320 in 2015 to 10,497 in 2016. Vehicle miles travelled (VMT) increased by 2.2 percent from 2015 to 2016, down from the 2.3-percent increase from 2014 to 2015. The fatality rate per 100 million VMT increased by 2.6 percent from 1.15 in 2015 to 1.18 in 2016. The fatality rate of 1.08 in 2014 was the lowest since NHTSA began collecting fatality data through the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) in 1975, and the trend has been increasing since 2014. Over the past decade there has been a general downward trend in traffic fatalities, with a slight increase in 2012 as well as the most recent two years of data. Ten years ago, in 2007, there were 41,259 people killed in traffic crashes. Safety programs such as those that have increased seat belt use and reduced impaired driving have substantially lowered the number of traffic fatalities over the years. Vehicle improvements including technologies such as air bags and electronic stability control have also contributed greatly to reduce traffic deaths. However, with the large increases in fatalities in 2015 and 2016, that decade-long downward trend of 21 percent has been reduced by more than one-third. This Research Note provides a brief overview of the 2016 fatal crash picture using data from FARS. FARS is a census of fatal crashes in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico is not included in U.S. totals). Injury estimates are not yet available for 2016, thus no injury estimates will be presented in this publication. For more information about injury estimates, see Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS) Replaces National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) General Estimates System (GES) at the end of this publication. Information in this note is presented in the following sections: * Overall Trends; * Fatality Rates; * Change in Fatality Composition; * Fatality Changes by Person Type; * Inside Versus Outside the Vehicle; * Fatal Crash Types; * Human Choices; * Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Fatalities and Drivers; * Restraint Use and Time of Day; * Additional Facts; and * State Distribution of Fatalities and Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Fatalities. (Author/publisher)
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