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 2012, there were 30,800 fatal crashes resulting in 33,561 fatalities. Rural areas accounted for 53 percent (16,443) of the fatal crashes and 54 percent (18,170) of the fatalities as compared to urban areas that accounted for 46 percent (14,263) of the fatal crashes and 46 percent (15,296) of the fatalities. Additionally, 94 fatal crashes resulting in 95 fatalities occurred in areas where land use was unknown. According to the 2010 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 54 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2012. (Author/publisher)
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