Motor Vehicle Deaths

Motor Vehicle Deaths measures the annual number of deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven and is compiled by the National Safety Council. Motor vehicle deaths reflect reckless driving and the effects of excessive use of alcohol and drugs on the general population. This component is not adjusted for the quality of each state's road system, weather or drivers' ages.

Table 19 displays the 2004 ranks, based on 2003 data (National Safety Council, Itasca, Ill.). Motor vehicle death rates vary from a low of 0.7 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven in Vermont to a high of 2.5 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven in Montana. The national average remains at 1.6 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven, same as the 2003 Edition. West Virginia and Colorado show the largest decreases in this area since the 2003 Edition with decreases of 0.3 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven, while South Dakota shows an increase of 0.4 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven.

Since the 1990 Edition, motor vehicle death rates overall have decreased by 0.9 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven, with Vermont and Oregon showing the greatest decreases of 1.7 deaths and 1.5 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven, respectively.

Only Montana and South Dakota have increased since 1990, moving from 2.4 to 2.5 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven and from 2.3 to 2.4 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven, respectively.

¹ Source: 2003 data, National Safety Council, Itasca, Ill. States with missing data were assigned rates equal to 2002.