Washington – September 15, 2026 -- An estimated 18,460 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes during the first half of 2026, a 2% decline from the revised first-half 2025 count, according to preliminary National Safety Council (NSC) data released Sept. 9, 2026. The drop occurred even as total miles driven rose 0.8% between January and June, pushing the estimated fatality rate to 1.12 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled -- down 3.4% year-over-year and 10.4% from 2024.