Fatalities by Transportation Mode, 1960–2012

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Find the total number of transportation fatalities as well as the total deaths by selected mode of transportation for selected years 1960–2012.

Mode 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2004 2008 2012P
Total fatalities n.a. n.a. n.a. 47,379 44,376 45,645 39,505 n.a.
Large air carrier1 499 146 1 39 92 14 3 0
Commuter air carrier1 n.a. n.a. 37 6 5 0 0 0
On-demand air carrier1 n.a. n.a. 105 51 71 64 69 15
General aviation1 787 1,310 1,239 767 596 559 495 432
Highway2 n.a. 52,627 51,091 44,599 41,945 42,836 37,423 33,561
Railroad3 824 785 584 599 512 635 605 561
Transit4 n.a. n.a. n.a. 339 295 82 75 n.a.
Commercial ship                
Vessel n.a. 178 206 85 49 86 51 33
Nonvessel5 n.a. 420 281 101 88 60 67 30
Recreational boating 739 1,418 1,360 865 701 676 709 651
NOTES: n.a. = data are nonexistent or not cited because of reporting changes; P = preliminary data.
1. Includes people on planes and on the ground.
2. Includes motor vehicle occupants, nonoccupants, and fatalities at railroad crossings.
3. Includes fatalities from nontrain incidents as well as train incidents and accidents. Also includes train occupants and nonoccupants except motor vehicle occupants at grade crossings.
4. Fatalities resulting from all reportable incidents, not just accidents. Includes commuter rail, heavy rail, light rail, motorbus, demand response, van pool, and automated guideway.
5. Fatalities unrelated to vessel accidents, e.g., individual falling overboard and drowning.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

 

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