U.S. road deaths fell in the first half of the year by 8%, even as Americans clocked more miles. The decrease continued a decline that started last year after a pandemic-era surge.

The decrease, the steepest first-half drop since 2008, nevertheless resulted in the sobering number of slightly more than 17,000 people killed in six months, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates.

“These preliminary figures are encouraging and reflect NHTSA’s close collaboration with state and local partners, especially law enforcement, to improve safety on our roads,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said in the federal agency’s midyear report.

“But even as we see progress, these numbers are far too high, and we remain focused on reducing traffic fatalities even further.”

Vehicle miles traveled in the U.S. rose by a staggering 12 billion, NHTSA said. That makes for a fatality rate of about 1.1 deaths per 100 million miles, down about 9% year-over-year and the lowest midyear rate since 2014.

Thirty-eight states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico experienced fatality decreases, one state was flat, and 11 saw traffic death increases, NHTSA reported.

Time will tell how the second half of 2025 fares when it comes to traffic safety. A report by Carfax indicates that the fall season is the most dangerous on the road based on the percentage of crashes. It found that there are more wrecks in the autumn than other seasons in 39 states.

Carfax cited decreasing daylight hours meaning more driving time in the dark, more slick tree debris on roads, and more crashes with deer, which are on the move during mating season.

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