Arkansas experienced 603 roadway fatalities in 2024, the most recent year for which data are available. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Arkansas had the second-highest roadway fatality rate in the country that year, up from the fifth spot in 2023. There were 19.5 deaths per 100,000 people in Arkansas in 2024, compared to the national average of 11.6.
This dashboard makes roadway fatality data from 2016 through 2024 available in an interactive format that allows users to examine where roadway fatalities occur as well as trends over time, demographics of the people who died, and the role of failure to use safety equipment.
Key Findings
- From 2016 through 2024, there were 5,297 roadway fatalities on Arkansas roadways, including motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
- In 2024, motorists accounted for 74% of roadway fatalities, followed by motorcyclists (13%), pedestrians (11%), bicyclists (1%), and other (1%).
- Among passenger vehicle occupants who died in 2024, 49% were not using a restraint. Among motorcyclists who died, 57% were not wearing a helmet.
About the Data
The data presented here were obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System for the years 2016 through 2024. ACHI calculated state and county fatality rates using annual population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program, specifically using 2020-2025 state population estimates and 2010-2020 state intercensal population estimates.
Definitions:
- Motorist: Any person in a motor vehicle that is not a motorcycle.
- Motorcyclist: Any person riding on a motorcycle.
- Bicyclist: Any person riding on a bicycle.
- Pedestrian: Any person accessing the roadway on foot.
- Other: Any person who succumbed to a vehicle-related fatality and does not fit into any of the above categories. This could be an occupant of a motor vehicle not in transport, an occupant of a non-motor vehicle transportation device, a person in or on a building, or an occupant of an unknown type of motorized or non-motorized vehicle.
Trends
This view displays the number of roadway fatalities by year. The data can be filtered by type of road user and demographics.
Demographics
This view displays the number of fatalities by demographics and geographic location. The data can be filtered by year and type of road user, in addition to sex, age group, and race/ethnicity.
Occupant Protection
Occupant protection refers to safety features designed to protect against injury in the event of a crash. This view displays the number of fatalities by occupant protection used, or not used, by motorists and motorcyclists. The data can be filtered by year.