SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NHTSA: Traffic Fatalities Increased in 2016

Federal data show that there were 37,461 deaths on the nation’s roads in 2016, up 5.6% from the 2015 total. The report includes details on school bus fatalities.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
November 2, 2017
NHTSA: Traffic Fatalities Increased in 2016

Federal data show that there were 37,461 deaths on the nation’s roads in 2016, up 5.6% from the 2015 total. Photo by Barry Johnson

2 min to read


Federal data show that there were 37,461 deaths on the nation’s roads in 2016, up 5.6% from the 2015 total. Photo by Barry Johnson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number and rate of deaths on the nation’s roads increased in 2016, according to recently released federal data.

The statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, show that there were 37,461 traffic fatalities in calendar year 2016, up 5.6% from the 2015 total of 35,485.

Ad Loading...

The traffic fatality rate also increased, according to NHTSA. The number of vehicle miles traveled on U.S. roads in 2016 was up 2.2%, and the fatality rate was 1.18 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled — a 2.6% increase from the 2015 rate of 1.15.

NHTSA reported that distracted driving and drowsy driving fatalities declined, while deaths related to other “reckless behaviors” — including speeding, alcohol impairment, and not wearing seat belts — continued to increase.

Also included in NHTSA’s 2016 data are school bus fatalities. Eight occupants age 18 or younger were killed in crashes in school buses or special-use school buses in 2016, up from five in 2015 and three in 2014.

The NHTSA report doesn’t specify the locations of those school bus occupant fatalities, but, as previously reported, six students were killed in the November 2016 school bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Meanwhile, according to the NHTSA data, five pedestrians age 18 or younger were fatally struck by school buses in 2016. The report does not indicate how many students were fatally struck by vehicles passing school buses in 2016.

More Safety

Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Read More →
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Read More →
Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.
SafetyJune 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

Read More →
hopskipdrive whitepaper
SponsoredMay 26, 2026

The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation

Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.

Read More →
Emergency response personnel assist participants evacuating through the rear emergency door of a yellow school bus during a hands-on safety training exercise at Prosper ISD. Smoke fills the bus interior as responders demonstrate emergency evacuation procedures.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMay 21, 2026

Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas

Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
BusPatrol cameras on the side of a school bus.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsMay 6, 2026

Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards

After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.

Read More →
A group of people in business attire pose for a photo in front of a school bus, with text reading "Legislative Roundup: May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 6, 2026

School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes

From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.

Read More →
Graphic with part of a school bus and text reading "Fatal Accident in Brooklyn."
Safetyby StaffMay 5, 2026

9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection

A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "2026 Safety & Operations Report" with an image of the cover of the report.
Safetyby StaffMay 4, 2026

Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes

The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.

Read More →