Motor vehicle crashes resulted in an estimated estimated 18,460 deaths during the first six months of 2026, representing a 2% decline from the same time in 2025, according to preliminary analysis by the National Safety Council.

Overall miles driven increased by 0.8% between January and June.

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%).

While 10 states and the District of Columbia saw increases of at least 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.”

Top causes of preventable roadway fatalities included 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.

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.