This fact sheet contains statistics on motor vehicle fatal crashes based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). FARS is a census of fatal crashes within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (although Puerto Rico is not included in the national totals). Rural and urban boundaries are determined by the State highway departments and approved by the Federal Highway Administration. In 2011, there were 29,757 fatal crashes resulting in 32,367 fatalities. Rural areas accounted for 54 percent (16,053) of the fatal crashes and 55 percent (17,762) of the fatalities as compared to urban areas that accounted for 46 percent (13,578) of the fatal crashes and 45 percent (14,464) of the fatalities. Additionally, 126 fatal crashes resulting in 141 fatalities occurred in areas where land use was unknown. According to the latest rural and urban population data from the Census Bureau, 19 percent of the U.S. population lived in rural areas, however, rural fatalities accounted for 55 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2011. (Author/publisher)
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