U.S. road fatalities decline sharply with safety tech, NHTSA says

U.S. traffic deaths dropped 8.2% in early 2025, the steepest fall in 15 years, according to NHTSA, highlighting safer cars, enforcement, and seasonal risks.

U.S. road fatalities continue to decline, with 17,140 people killed in crashes during the first half of 2025—an 8.2% drop compared to the same period in 2024. It marks the sharpest first-half improvement since 2008. What makes the figures even more striking is that Americans drove more miles, proving the decline cannot be explained by lighter traffic alone.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes this is the twelfth consecutive quarter of decline. Vehicle technology plays a central role: automatic emergency braking and improved crash structures are now standard, while rear automatic braking and camera systems are reducing backing collisions by nearly 80%. IIHS data show that forward AEB cuts rear-end crashes roughly in half, and pedestrian AEB reduces pedestrian strikes by nearly a third.

But technology is only part of the story. National enforcement and awareness campaigns—“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” targeting impaired driving and “Put the Phone Away or Pay” focusing on distraction—have intensified. In 2024, drunk driving was responsible for about 13,500 deaths, and authorities are determined to push that number down further.

Yet fall remains the most dangerous season on American roads. CARFAX reports that in 39 states, crash rates peak in autumn, driven by shorter daylight hours, wet leaves, and a surge in animal-related collisions, particularly with deer.

A look north of the border highlights the gap still facing the U.S. A study by IIHS and Canada’s TIRF found that stricter Canadian measures—speed enforcement through cameras, tougher impaired-driving rules, and graduated licensing systems—are directly linked to lower fatality rates. Experts argue that adopting these approaches could save thousands of lives each year in the United States.

The trend is encouraging, but the road ahead remains long. The record drop in deaths in early 2025 demonstrates the payoff of efforts by automakers, regulators, and law enforcement. Still, with autumn looming, the data also serve as a reminder: progress depends on vigilance and readiness for seasonal risks.