QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Rate* of Motor Vehicle Traffic Deaths,† by Urbanization of County of Residence§ - 2005 and 2015

Abstract

The overall age-adjusted rate of motor vehicle traffic deaths in the United States decreased 25% from 14.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2005 to 10.9 in 2015. During this period, the rate declined in each of the county groupings, with the largest decline of 26% in the large fringe metropolitan and micropolitan counties and the smallest decline of 20% in rural counties. For both years, the rates for motor vehicle traffic deaths were higher in nonmetropolitan areas than in metropolitan areas. In 2015, the age-adjusted rate in rural counties was nearly three times the rate for large central metropolitan counties (23.0 compared with 7.9 per 100,000).

The overall age-adjusted rate of motor vehicle traffic deaths in the United States decreased 25% from 14.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2005 to 10.9 in 2015. During this period, the rate declined in each of the county groupings, with the largest decline of 26% in the large fringe metropolitan and micropolitan counties and the smallest decline of 20% in rural counties. For both years, the rates for motor vehicle traffic deaths were higher in nonmetropolitan areas than in metropolitan areas. In 2015, the age-adjusted rate in rural counties was nearly three times the rate for large central metropolitan counties (23.0 compared with 7.9 per 100,000).