Why U.S. Traffic Deaths Surged in 2021 and What Comes Next

A sharp rise in U.S. traffic fatalities during 2021 reveals urgent safety challenges—and shows what must change.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

A sharp rise in U.S. traffic fatalities during 2021 reveals urgent safety challenges—and shows what must change.

America’s Roadway Safety Crisis: 2021’s Stark Warning

In 2021, U.S. traffic fatalities surged to the highest level in 16 years, reversing a three-decade trend of improvement and sparking alarm across the transportation sector. Early estimates projected over 42,900 people died in motor vehicle crashes, a 10.5% jump from 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) .

This spike—representing the deadliest year since 2005—came despite continued progress in vehicle safety technology and ongoing public safety campaigns. The numbers point to deeper, systemic issues that demand urgent action, from infrastructure and policy changes to shifts in driver behavior.

Key Facts: The Numbers Behind the Spike

42,915 people died in traffic crashes in 2021, up from 38,824 in 2020, and the highest since 2005 .
This marks the largest annual percentage increase (10.5%) in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System’s history .
Fatality rate: 1.33 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), slightly down from 1.34 in 2020 due to a rise in overall travel but still elevated compared to past years .
84 million more people traveled U.S. roads in 2021 than in 2020, with vehicle miles increasing by 11.2% .
Increases spanned almost all regions and states, with 44 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico all reporting more deaths year over year .

Which Road Users Are Most at Risk?

The upward trajectory in mortality was not evenly distributed—certain groups and behaviors saw particularly alarming increases:

Multivehicle crashes: Fatalities up 16%.
Urban roads: +16% in fatalities.
People age 65+: Fatalities up 14%.
Pedestrians: +13% (7,388 killed in 2021) .
Involving large trucks: Up 13%.
Daytime crashes: Fatalities up 11%.
Motorcyclists: Up 9%.
Bicyclists: +5%.
Speeding-related crashes: +5%.
Alcohol-involved crashes: +5%.

Table: 2021 Fatalities by Category

Category	Percent Change from 2020	Number of Deaths (Est.)
Total Traffic Fatalities	+10.5%	42,915
Pedestrian Fatalities	+13%	7,388
Multivehicle Crash Fatalities	+16%	n/a
Elderly (65+)	+14%	n/a
Bicyclist Fatalities	+5%	966
Motorcyclist Fatalities	+9%	5,932

Sources: NHTSA, US DOT, 2021 preliminary fatality data

Root Causes: Why Did Fatalities Rise?

Multiple factors contributed to the spike in roadway deaths in 2021, many of them magnified by the disruptions and behavior changes caused by the pandemic. The returning traffic volume after 2020’s lockdowns brought with it a surge in risky driving behaviors—including speeding, impaired driving, and seatbelt neglect—that had grown more prevalent during the pandemic’s quieter months.

Risky driving: NHTSA reports significant increases in speeding, impaired driving, and unrestrained occupants.
Infrastructure and urbanization: Urban roads saw particularly large rises in deaths, suggesting persistent challenges with pedestrian/cyclist protection and the complexity of city traffic.
Vehicle miles traveled (VMT): The sharp rebound in overall miles driven contributed to higher exposure and risk .
Large vehicles: The continued prevalence of bigger vehicles, like SUVs and trucks, exacerbates risks for non-motorists and vulnerable road users in cities.

Who and What is Most at Risk?

Crashes disproportionately affected several populations and contexts:

Older drivers: Fatalities among drivers aged 65+ rose dramatically. Age-related vulnerabilities, plus increased travel post-pandemic, may have played a role.
Pedestrians and cyclists: Urban areas, where road design often prioritizes speed and vehicle flow over human safety, remain perilous. 13% more pedestrians and 5% more bicyclists lost their lives in 2021 versus the prior year.
Vulnerable and low-income communities: These often face greater exposure to poorly designed roads and limited pedestrian protections.

Policy and Infrastructure Responses: What’s Being Done?

Federal and state officials have responded to the 2021 spike by accelerating safety initiatives and unlocking substantial new funding:

National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS): Released by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the NRSS adopts a safe system approach—designing a transportation environment where mistakes do not result in death or severe injury. Focus areas include:
- Safer roads
- Safer vehicles
- Safer speeds
- Safer people
- Better post-crash care
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Passed in 2021, the law injects billions into traffic safety, including $6 billion for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program to fund local safety improvements .
Updated standards: Mandates require upgrades to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, modernization of design standards, and encouragement of “complete streets” strategies.
Technical assistance: NHTSA launched programs to help states identify and address region-specific safety gaps, particularly for vulnerable road users and populations.
Enforcement and education: The familiar Click It or Ticket campaign, coupled with targeted enforcement, ramped up efforts to increase seatbelt use and deter risky driving.

The Path Forward: Reimagining Road Safety

Design for everyone: There is growing momentum for “complete streets,” urban designs that slow car traffic, prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, and add features like raised crossings, protected lanes, and narrower roads to reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes.
Technology solutions: Modern vehicles are increasingly equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping. However, experts warn that systemic street design changes often yield greater population-wide safety gains than vehicle tech alone.
Speed management: Revising speed limits, redesigning wide and fast corridors, and enforcing limits consistently can drive down fatality rates. Slower streets are safer streets.
Community engagement: Funding and prioritization are shifting to address the unique needs of neighborhoods, especially in underserved areas at higher risk.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg encapsulated the urgency: “We face a crisis on America’s roadways that we must address together… All of our lives depend on it.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Was 2021 really the deadliest year for U.S. traffic since 2005?

A: Yes, NHTSA estimates that over 42,900 people died, making it the worst year in 16 years and marking the largest annual rise on record .

Q: Which types of crashes and road users saw the biggest increases?

A: Fatalities in multi-vehicle crashes and on urban roads increased most sharply (+16%). Elderly drivers (65+), pedestrians, motorcyclists, and people in alcohol-involved or speeding-related crashes also saw substantial rises .

Q: What is being done at the federal level to reduce traffic deaths?

A: The Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law fund local safety initiatives, mandate updates to road design standards, expand technical assistance, support education, and increase resources for states .

Q: Did the fatality rate per mile driven drop as travel volumes rebounded?

A: The absolute number of deaths rose sharply, but the rate per 100 million miles driven dropped slightly in 2021 as overall travel also rebounded post-pandemic .

Q: What are “complete streets” and how can they make roads safer?

A: “Complete streets” are roadways designed to safely accommodate all users—drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and people with disabilities—often by adding features like protected bike lanes, raised crosswalks, and curb extensions. This approach has been shown to dramatically reduce crash risk, especially for non-motorists.

Actions for Safer Roads: What Can Be Done Now?

Adopt and prioritize complete streets and traffic calming in city planning.
Promote mass transit and active transportation as alternatives to driving, especially for short urban trips.
Implement consistent and tough enforcement on speeding, impaired driving, and seatbelt laws.
Invest in data-driven decision making to target problem areas and high-risk groups.
Expand education campaigns on safe travel behaviors for all road users.

Quick Facts At a Glance

2021 was the deadliest year for U.S. traffic since 2005, with fatalities up over 10%.
Surges in deaths are especially evident among pedestrians, cyclists, the elderly, and in urban environments.
A historic federal response aims to remake U.S. roads with a “safe system” approach and sweeping new funding.

For More Information

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) annual reports
U.S. Department of Transportation National Roadway Safety Strategy
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) state-by-state breakdowns

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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