2015 was the deadliest year on U.S. highways since 2008, with 38,300 deaths and 4.4 million serious injuries, according to preliminary numbers from the National Safety Council (NSC). That number is 8 percent higher than the 2014, compared to an increase of less than 0.5 percent from 2013 to 2014.
The NSC blamed lower gas prices, resulting in a 3.5 percent increase in miles driven in 2015. Motor vehicle deaths, injuries, and property damage were estimated to cost the US $412.1 billion in 2015 in medical expenses, wage and productivity losses, administrative costs, employer costs, and property damage.
Deaths on ERC states’ roads in 2015 varied from 30 percent growth in Vermont to 2 percent reduction in New Jersey. It is important to note that both New Jersey and Pennsylvania were well below U.S. average increases for both 2014 and 2015. Smaller states saw significant variability, likely due to small numbers. Rhode Island enjoyed substantially fewer motor vehicle deaths across both years.
The NSC offers important recommendations for safe driving.
| Motor vehicle deaths 2015 | % change 2014 to 2015 | % change 2013 to 2015 | |
| U.S. total | 38,300 | 8% | 8% |
| Connecticut | 283 | 14% | 3% |
| Delaware | 130 | 4% | 30% |
| Maine | 156 | 16% | 8% |
| Maryland | 508 | 12% | 12% |
| Massachusetts | 354 | 2% | 6% |
| New Hampshire | 114 | 24% | -16% |
| New Jersey | 553 | -2% | 1% |
| New York | 1,090 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 1,205 | -1% | 0% |
| Rhode Island | 45 | -13% | -32% |
| Vermont | 57 | 30% | -19% |
