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Business Environment Profiles - United States

Number of vehicle accidents

Published: 17 July 2025

Key Metrics

Number of vehicle accidents

Total (2025)

6 Million

Annualized Growth 2020-25

2.8 %

Definition of Number of vehicle accidents

The number of vehicle accidents represents the number of vehicle crashes on US highways as reported by US Department of Transportation.

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Recent Trends – Number of vehicle accidents

In 2025, the number of vehicle accidents in the United States is estimated to reach 6.0 million, representing a 1.3% increase over the previous year. The trend during 2025 highlights ongoing normalization in driving activity following the volatility experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, as well as the influence of persistent macro-level risks such as poor driving behaviors and adverse weather conditions.

During the five years to 2025, the number of vehicle accidents has exhibited significant volatility. In 2020, pandemic-related travel restrictions and reduced commuter activity precipitated a dramatic decline of 22.3% in accidents, with the annual figure dropping to 5.3 million. As pandemic-related restrictions eased, traffic volumes rebounded sharply, leading to a significant surge in 2021 with accidents increasing by 16.2% to 6.1 million. This abrupt increase was partly due to the rapid re-mobilization of the population and decreased driving experience among some groups following the lull in road use. Accident totals moderated in subsequent years, decreasing by 2.8% in 2022 and a further 0.9% in 2023 as travel habits stabilized and road users adjusted to post-pandemic traffic conditions. In 2024, accidents edged upward by 1.5% as economic activity supported greater vehicle use. Despite these safety efforts, other persistent risks, such as distracted driving and inclement weather events, continued to challenge national road safety outcomes. Macroeconomic factors such as employment rates and overall economic activity also influenced miles driven, thereby affecting accident frequency. Public safety campaigns and governmental infrastructure investment played a moderating role, but these measures have had to contend with countervailing trends like higher traffic volumes and changes in commuting patterns.

Over the 2020 to 2025 period, the overall number of vehicle accidents increased at an average annualized rate of 2.8%, encompassing both the pandemic-induced low in 2020 and the subsequent rebound in travel and economic activity. Infrastructure enhancements and new safety technologies have worked to offset rising accident risk from greater road usage.

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5-Year Outlook – Number of vehicle accidents

In 2026, the number of vehicle accidents is projected to reach 6.1 million, reflecting a modest 1...

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