Overview

In 2024, miles traveled were lowest in January and February and peaked in May and August. Similarly, traffic deaths were lowest from January through April and remained elevated from May through November.

Looking at the death rate per 100 million vehicle miles, the lowest rates occurred in March and peaked in September. The mileage death rate helps correct for the variation in monthly mileage and is a more accurate measure of risk when comparing trends.

Adjusting the filter at the top of the interactive chart allows you to explore monthly trends by year. Over the last several years, January or February generally experienced the fewest motor-vehicle fatalities, while July, August, or October experienced the most.

Much of the variation in monthly motor-vehicle fatalities is associated with the number of vehicle miles. During the winter months, vehicle miles and deaths go down, while vehicle miles and deaths increase in the summer months.

In a typical year, the death rate per 100 million vehicle miles does not fluctuate to the same degree as do fatalities during the year.

Source: National Safety Council (NSC) analysis of National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) mortality data.