DETROIT (WWJ) -- A total of 37,810 people died on the nation’s roadways in 2025, a drop of 12%. This comes as the number of miles driven by motorists increased last year, by .9 %.
The numbers coming from the National Safety Council, which says fatalities also fell in Michigan, but only by 3%. The council estimates 1,023 people died in car crashes in Michigan last year.
“The decrease in roadway fatalities is more than a number. It represents lives saved and families kept whole,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO. “It is also proof that our sustained efforts to make our roads safer are working. We must continue to work together as advocates, policymakers and communities to build on this progress, until no one ever loses their life on our roads again.”
The National Safety Council uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics, an arm of the CDC, so that deaths occurring within 100 days of the crash and on both public and private roadways – such as parking lots and driveways – are included in the Council’s estimates.
Highway deaths rose significantly during the pandemic. That was blamed on higher speed and less enforcement.
Deaths have been falling the past few years as enforcement has been increased on both the state and national levels.
“Dangerous driving behaviors – including speeding, distracted and impaired driving – remain the leading cause of traffic deaths for all roadway users: pedestrians, cyclists, passengers and drivers,” read a statement from the National Safety Council. “Addressing these risks requires driver education, infrastructure improvements, better vehicle design, legislation and evidence-driven technology.”
The District of Columbia saw the largest drop in fatalities, 52%. California was second with a 40% decrease. Nine states saw decreases of over 15%.
On the other hand, highway deaths rose in eight states, lead by Hawaii, which saw a 25% increase in roadway fatalities.
The National Safety Council has been estimating roadway fatalities since 1913.