13 states saw decreases of 10% or more, while 10 states and the District of Columbia saw increases of at least 10%

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — An estimated 18,460 lives were lost in motor vehicle crashes during the first six months of 2026, according to preliminary analysis by the National Safety Council. This represents a 2% decrease from the revised count for the first half of 2025, as overall miles driven increased by 0.8% between January and June.

The results were mixed across the country, with some states seeing double-digit decreases and others undergoing double-digit increases. Thirteen states experienced decreases of more than 10%: Hawaii (-30%), Illinois (-24%), West Virginia (-24%), Kansas (-21%), Oklahoma (-20%), Idaho (-18%), New Hampshire (-16%), Nevada (-14%), Maryland (-13%), Wisconsin (-13%), Tennessee (-12%), Utah (-11%) and Massachusetts (-10%).

Ten states and the District of Columbia, however, experienced increases of 10%: District of Columbia (+133%), Delaware (+24%), Rhode Island (+22%), Vermont (+18%), North Dakota (+18%), Kentucky (+18%), Alabama (+17%), Iowa (+16%), Wyoming (+14%), California (+14%) and Mississippi (+12%).

The estimated mileage fatality rate for the first half of 2026 is 1.12 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, a 3.4% decrease from 2025 and a 10.4% decrease from 2024.

“While the national trend continues to point in the right direction, our work is far from complete,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO and chair of the Road to Zero Coalition. “Even one death on our roads is too many. As drivers, we can all make a difference by committing to driving safely and responsibly on every trip. As advocates, NSC will continue to work toward implementing evidence-based solutions, safety-focused policies and the strategies proven to save lives.”

Leading causes of preventable roadway fatalities include speeding, impaired and distracted driving, driver fatigue and failure to use seatbelts. In 2024, 30% of traffic deaths involved an alcohol-impaired driver, and speeding was a factor in 29% of fatalities.

Established and led by NSC, the Road to Zero Coalition partners with transportation safety stakeholders to advance comprehensive solutions and disseminate best practices with the goal of eliminating roadway deaths by 2050. The Coalition promotes the Safe System Approach, advocating for safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds, safer roads and post-crash care.

Motor vehicle fatality estimates are subject to slight fluctuations as data matures. NSC uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics to include deaths occurring within 100 days of the crash and on both public and private roadways — such as parking lots and driveways. 

The full analysis, including estimates for each state, is available here. To learn more about the Road to Zero Coalition, visit here.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for over 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives. 

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©2026 National Safety Council

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SOURCE National Safety Council