1

2.5

2

1.5

0.5

0

Fatality Rate

1988

Source: NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics & Analysis, FARS 1988 - 2003 (Final), 2004 (ARF), VMT: Federal Highway Administration

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

1.48 1.46

August 2005 A Brief Statistical Summary Published by the Mathematical Analysis Division DOT HS 809 897

2004 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment – Early Results

Traffic Safety Facts

Crash•Stats

National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590 

Early results from the 2004 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) show that the number of persons killed in the U.S. in motor 

vehicle traffic crashes declined from 2003. This is the second consecutive year in which traffic crash fatalities have declined after 

reaching a recent high of 43,005 in 2002. With an expected increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT), the fatality rate per 100 million 

VMT will be 1.46, the lowest recorded by the Department of Transportation (see Figure 1). Early results also show (see Table 1) a 

decline in pedestrian fatalities and in fatalities in all passenger vehicles combined. By vehicle type, occupant fatalities increased 

in large trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUV). Motorcycle rider fatalities increased for the seventh year in a row, exceeding 4,000 

fatalities for the first year since 1987.

In other significant results, shown in Table 2, fatalities in alcohol-related crashes decreased for a second year, declining by 2.4 

percent, falling below 17,000 fatalities for the first time in five years. Fatalities declined by 1.8 percent in crashes where the highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dl) or greater. Fatalities of unrestrained passenger vehicle 

occupants declined by 3.4 percent, reflecting the increasing 

use of safety belts and contributing to the overall reduction in 

passenger vehicle occupant fatalities. Increases were found in 

the number of passenger vehicle occupants killed when their 

vehicle rolled over (1.1 percent) and for persons killed in 

crashes involving large trucks (3.1 percent).

Table 2

Characteristics of Fatal Crashes

Description 2003 2004 Change % Change

Traffic Fatalities by Highest BAC in the Crash

 BAC 0.01+ 17,105 16,694 -411 -2.4%

 BAC 0.08+ 14,678 14,409 -269 -1.8%

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities

 Unrestrained 18,196 17,575 -621 -3.4%

 In Vehicle Rollovers 10,442 10,553 111 1.1%

Fatalities in Large Truck Crashes 

Total Fatalities 5,036 5,190 154 3.1%

Source: FARS 2003 [Final], 2004 Annual Report File [ARF].

Table 1

Motorists and Non-motorists Killed in Traffic Crashes

Description 2003 2004 Change % Change

Motorists Killed in

 Passenger Vehicles 32,271 31,693 -578 -1.8%

 Passenger Cars 19,725 19,091 -634 -3.2%

 Vans 2,080 2,036 -44 -2.1%

 SUVs 4,483 4,735 252 5.6%

 Pickup Trucks 5,957 5,801 -156 -2.6%

 Large Trucks 726 761 35 4.8%

 Other/Unknown 630 680 50 7.9%

 Motorcycles 3,714 4,008 294 7.9%

Non-motorists Killed

 Pedestrians 4,774 4,641 -133 -2.8%

 Pedalcyclists 629 725 96 15%

 Other/Unknown 140 128 -12 -8.6%

Total 42,884 42,636 -248 -0.6%

Source: FARS 2003 [Final], 2004 Annual Report File [ARF].

Figure 1

Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT), 1988 - 2004
National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590 

Table 3 shows the total number of 

fatalities for 2003 and 2004, the change 

in the number of fatalities and the percent change for each State, the District 

of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Twentyseven States, the District of Columbia 

and Puerto Rico had reductions in the 

number of fatalities. States with the largest reduction in the number of fatalities 

were Texas (-238) and Michigan (-124). 

The District of Columbia and Rhode 

Island had the greatest percentage 

reductions (-35.8 percent and –20.2 percent, respectively). States with the largest increases were Alabama (150) and 

Indiana (114). The largest percentage 

increases were found in Vermont (42.0 

percent) and New Hampshire (34.6 percent). The number of fatalities in New 

York did not change.

NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting 

System (FARS) is a census of all crashes 

of motor vehicles traveling on a public 

roadway in which a person died within 

30 days of the crash.

Table 3 

Persons Killed in Motor Vehicle Crashes, by State, 2003-2004

State 2003 2004 Change % Change

Alabama 1,004 1,154 150 14.9%

Alaska 98 101 3 3.1%

Arizona 1,118 1,150 32 2.9%

Arkansas 640 704 64 10.0%

California 4,224 4,120 -104 -2.5%

Colorado 642 665 23 3.6%

Connecticut 298 291 -7 -2.3%

Delaware 142 134 -8 -5.6%

District of Columbia 67 43 -24 -35.8%

Florida 3,169 3,244 75 2.4%

Georgia 1,603 1,634 31 1.9%

Hawaii 133 142 9 6.8%

Idaho 293 260 -33 -11.3%

Illinois 1,454 1,356 -98 -6.7%

Indiana 833 947 114 13.7%

Iowa 443 390 -53 -12.0%

Kansas 469 461 -8 -1.7%

Kentucky 928 964 36 3.9%

Louisiana 940 904 -36 -3.8%

Maine 207 194 -13 -6.3%

Maryland 650 643 -7 -1.1%

Massachusetts 462 476 14 3.0%

Michigan 1,283 1,159 -124 -9.7%

Minnesota 655 567 -88 -13.4%

Mississippi 872 900 28 3.2%

Missouri 1,232 1,130 -102 -8.3%

Montana 262 229 -33 -12.6%

Nebraska 293 254 -39 -13.3%

Nevada 368 395 27 7.3%

New Hampshire 127 171 44 34.6%

New Jersey 733 731 -2 -0.3%

New Mexico 439 521 82 18.7%

New York 1,493 1,493 0 0.0%

North Carolina 1,553 1,557 4 0.3%

North Dakota 105 100 -5 -4.8%

Ohio 1,274 1,286 12 0.9%

Oklahoma 671 774 103 15.4%

Oregon 512 456 -56 -10.9%

Pennsylvania 1,577 1,490 -87 -5.5%

Rhode Island 104 83 -21 -20.2%

South Carolina 969 1,046 77 7.9%

South Dakota 203 197 -6 -3.0%

Tennessee 1,193 1,288 95 8.0%

Texas 3,821 3,583 -238 -6.2%

Utah 309 296 -13 -4.2%

Vermont 69 98 29 42.0%

Virginia 943 925 -18 -1.9%

Washington 600 563 -37 -6.2%

West Virginia 394 411 17 4.3%

Wisconsin 848 792 -56 -6.6%

Wyoming 165 164 -1 -0.6%

US (excluding Puerto Rico) 42,884 42,636 -248 -0.6%

Puerto Rico 495 494 -1 -0.2%

Source: FARS 2003 [Final], 2004 Annual Report File [ARF]. 

The information in this Crash•Stats 

represents only major findings from 

2004 FARS. Additional information 

and details will be available at a later 

date. Internet users may access this 

Crash•Stats and other general information on traffic safety at: http://

www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.html