More people die in highway accidents than any other mode
Posted November 27, 2017
Over 2,000 more people died in 2016 than 2015 in transportation accidents, according to new statistics provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Highway is the top mode for fatalities, accounting for 95 percent of the transportation deaths in 2016.
U.S. roadways continue to be a dangerous place. NTSB reports deaths increased from 35,485 in 2015 to 37,461 in 2016. Following is a breakdown of the total reported highway fatalities for 2015 and 2016. Numbers for 2016 are preliminary estimates.
| Category | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 12,761 | 13,412 |
| Light trucks and vans | 9,878 | 10,302 |
| Pedestrians | 5,495 | 5,987 |
| Motorcycles | 5,029 | 5,286 |
| Pedalcycles | 829 | 840 |
| Medium and heavy trucks | 665 | 722 |
| Buses | 49 | 40 |
| Other | 779 | 872 |
| Total | 35,485 | 37,461 |
The category of “Other” refers to nonoccupants (excluding pedestrians and pedalcyclists) and occupants in other or unknown vehicle types. “Pedalcycles” include bicycles and other cycles.
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