National Safety Council Projects 12% Decrease in U.S. Traffic Fatalities in 2025

National Safety Council projects an estimated 37,810 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2025, a 12% decrease from 2024, while miles driven rose 0.9% (Feb. 24, 2026).

Rhea-AI Summary

National Safety Council projects an estimated 37,810 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2025, a 12% decrease from 2024, while miles driven rose 0.9% (Feb. 24, 2026). Nine states and D.C. saw declines exceeding 15%; eight states recorded increases, led by Hawaii (+25%).

NSC highlights continued risks from speeding, distracted and impaired driving and urges a Safe System Approach and adoption of proven vehicle and infrastructure technologies.

Positive

• Fatalities -12% nationwide in 2025 estimate
• Nine jurisdictions with >15% fatality declines
• Miles driven rose only 0.9% despite fatality decline

Negative

• Hawaii fatalities estimated to rise +25%
• Eight states showed increases, including Wyoming +12%
• Dangerous driving behaviors remain leading fatality causes

Argus Feb 24 session

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News Market Reaction – AMZN

On Feb 24, the day this news came out, AMZN closed 1.60% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Feb 24 session.

Key Figures

2025 U.S. crash deaths: 37,810 deaths Fatality change: 12% decrease Miles driven change: 0.9% increase +5 more

2025 U.S. crash deaths

37,810 deaths

Preliminary NSC estimate for 2025

Fatality change

12% decrease

2025 vs. 2024 U.S. motor vehicle deaths

Miles driven change

0.9% increase

Change in overall miles driven in 2025

D.C. fatalities change

-52%

2025 motor vehicle deaths vs. prior year

California fatalities change

-40%

2025 motor vehicle deaths vs. prior year

Hawaii fatalities change

+25%

2025 motor vehicle deaths vs. prior year

Road to Zero members

650+ organizations

Traffic safety alliance membership

Post-crash inclusion window

100 days

Time after crash for deaths to be counted in NSC data

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 11

5 events

1. Feb 11

   Pharmacy expansion

   24h Move

   -1.4%

   Amazon Pharmacy expanding same-day delivery to nearly 4,500 U.S. locations.

2. Feb 10

   Health feature launch

   24h Move

   -1.4%

   One Medical introduces Health Insights lab interpretation feature for members.

3. Feb 05

   Q4 earnings

   24h Move

   -4.4%

   Q4 2025 results with strong net sales and income plus AI-driven capex plan.

4. Feb 04

   Connectivity partnership

   24h Move

   -2.4%

   AT&T, AWS, Amazon Leo collaboration to modernize U.S. connectivity infrastructure.

5. Feb 03

   Prime speed record

   24h Move

   -1.8%

   Record 13B same/next-day deliveries and major rural delivery investment.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

telematics, automatic emergency braking, safe system approach

3 terms

telematics technical

"NSC continues to advocate for proven safety technologies including speed safety cameras, intelligent speed assistance, telematics, advanced impaired..."

Telematics is the technology that collects, transmits and analyzes data from vehicles or remote equipment—such as location, speed, engine status and sensor readings—using GPS, cellular networks and onboard computers. For investors it matters because telematics turns physical assets into data-rich services, enabling new revenue streams (like usage-based insurance, fleet optimization, or predictive maintenance), reducing costs and improving risk visibility much like a fitness tracker does for health.

automatic emergency braking technical

"NSC continues to advocate for ... advanced impaired driving prevention technology and automatic emergency braking."

Automatic emergency braking is a vehicle safety system that uses sensors and software to detect an imminent collision and apply the brakes automatically to slow or stop the car, reducing damage or avoiding a crash. Investors care because the presence, performance and regulation of this feature influence manufacturing costs, warranty and liability exposure, insurance rates, consumer appeal and a maker’s ability to meet safety rules—similar to a built-in safety net that can change a product’s market value.

safe system approach technical

"Reducing traffic deaths requires coordinated government action based on the Safe System Approach."

A safe system approach is a design and management mindset that builds multiple layers of protection into products, operations or services so that single mistakes or failures do not cause serious harm. For investors, it signals lower regulatory and legal risk and more reliable operations—like putting seat belts, airbags and crash‑barriers in a car so one fault won’t lead to disaster—making a company’s cash flow and reputation steadier over time.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Nine states and D.C. saw decreases of more than 15%

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Preliminary analysis from the National Safety Council estimates 37,810 motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States in 2025 – a 12% decrease from 2024, even as overall miles driven increased by 0.9%.

Nine states and the District of Columbia experienced decreases of more than 15%: D.C. (-52%), California (-40%), Rhode Island (-29%), Iowa (-24%), Minnesota (-21%), Mississippi (-19%), New York (-18%), Connecticut (-16%), Maryland (-16%) and South Dakota (-16%). Eight states saw increases: Hawaii (+25%), Wyoming (+12%) and Kansas (+10%) led that group with gains of 10% or more, followed by New Mexico (+8%), Idaho (+7%), Louisiana (+5%), Vermont (+5%) and Colorado (+3%).

"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."

This progress reflects the kind of coordinated, multi-stakeholder effort that the Road to Zero Coalition was built to advance. Led by NSC and established in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Road to Zero Coalition is the nation's largest traffic safety alliance – uniting more than 650 organizations around a shared goal of eliminating roadway fatalities in the United States by 2050.

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. Addressing these risks requires driver education, infrastructure improvements, better vehicle design, legislation and evidence-driven technology.

NSC continues to advocate for proven safety technologies including speed safety cameras, intelligent speed assistance, telematics, advanced impaired driving prevention technology and automatic emergency braking. These tools have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing crashes and saving lives.

Reducing traffic deaths requires coordinated government action based on the Safe System Approach. NSC urges the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to maintain its commitment to prioritize engagement with transportation stakeholders committed to reaching zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. This vision should also include collaboration with the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, and allow for collaboration among technology providers, motor vehicle manufacturers and safety advocates. By aligning federal, state and local resources, requiring necessary vehicle technology and supporting vital research, DOT can make a lasting impact on roadway safety.

The Safe System Approach is a holistic roadway safety model that has shown measurable success in eliminating preventable traffic fatalities. The approach focuses on five key elements: safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles, safer people and better 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, 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. 

The Council has calculated traffic fatality estimates since 1913. Supplemental estimate information, including estimates for each state and month, can be found 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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SOURCE National Safety Council

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did the National Safety Council announce about 2025 U.S. traffic fatalities and how does that relate to AMZN (AMZN)?

The NSC projects 37,810 traffic deaths in 2025, a 12% decrease. According to National Safety Council, miles driven increased 0.9% while fatalities fell, with varied state-level trends that could influence regional transportation risk profiles relevant to AMZN operations.

Which states had the largest changes in traffic fatalities in 2025 and could this affect AMZN (AMZN) logistics planning?

Nine states and D.C. reported declines exceeding 15%; Hawaii, Wyoming and Kansas saw notable increases. According to National Safety Council, these state-by-state shifts may alter regional safety priorities, though no direct company-specific operational impacts were reported.

What driving behaviors did the NSC identify for 2025 and why should AMZN (AMZN) investors care?

NSC identified speeding, distracted and impaired driving as leading causes of deaths. According to National Safety Council, addressing these behaviors requires vehicle technology and infrastructure changes, which could intersect with logistics safety and regulatory focus affecting AMZN over time.

What solutions did the National Safety Council recommend for reducing fatalities and how might that intersect with AMZN (AMZN) fleet technology?

NSC urged adoption of speed cameras, intelligent speed assistance, telematics and automatic emergency braking. According to National Safety Council, these proven technologies reduce crashes and could inform fleet safety investments relevant to AMZN logistics strategies.

How reliable are the NSC 2025 fatality estimates and what data sources were used that investors in AMZN (AMZN) should note?

NSC notes estimates include deaths within 100 days of crashes on public and private roadways and use National Center for Health Statistics data. According to National Safety Council, figures are preliminary and subject to slight change as data matures.