More than 41,000 people are killed in highway crashes each year in the U. S., and 3.5 million are injured. Highway crashes are the leading cause of death of people six to 28 years of age and are the cause of more permanent impairments than any other type of accident. Highway fatalities nationwide have increased by six percent since 1992.
Statistics show that increased investment in road and bridge improvements save lives.
Making road lanes and shoulders wider, adding medians and improving bridges are just a few of the improvements which have been shown to cut fatalities significantly. Data are the latest available. Approximately 500 people are killed annually in crashes at rail-highway crossings. About 12,000 people are killed annually in traffic crashes involving collisions with a fixed object such as a tree, guardrail, utility pole, curb, or light or support pole. Listed are key road and bridge improvements evaluated over a 20-year period by FHWA and the related reduction in fatality rates.