A nationwide statistical overview studies common collisions and crash severity
Sacramento, Calif.—A new study has examined what type of car collisions are the most common based national traffic statistics and police reports. The analysis, by Penney and Associates, stated there were more than six million motor vehicle crashes in the U.S., of which nearly two million resulted in occupant or pedestrian injury
Below are highlights of the report.
The most common type of passenger vehicle collision is front impact, followed by rear impact
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Institute (NHTSA), front impact car collisions are the most common. In 2019, there were 2.8 million front impact collisions. This means that two or more vehicles collided head on. The second most common type of crash was rear impact, with 1,570,000 collisions.
Passenger cars involved in crashes, by most harmful event and crash severity, 2019
| Type of Collision w/ Motor Vehicle | Total # of Collisions Nationwide |
| Front Impact | 2,800,000 |
| Rear Impact | 1,570,000 |
| Left Side Impact | 608,000 |
| Right Side Impact | 555,000 |
| Other/Unknown Impact | 1,000 |
The NHTSA also keeps record of motor vehicle collisions with fixed and non-fixed objects. In other words, collisions in which cars crash into something other than another vehicle. A fixed object might be a telephone pole, while a non-fixed object might be a couch that fell from a truck.
Passenger cars involved in crashes, by most harmful event and crash severity, 2019
| Type of Collision w/ Object | Total # of Collisions Nationwide |
| Fixed Object | 505,000 |
| Non-Fixed Object | 451,000 |
Does speed matter? Over 12,000 cars were involved in fatal accidents at 55 mph, the most of any speed
Driving slower is safer, according to available crash data. The NHTSA reports that in 2019, 12,681 cars travelling at 50 to 60 mph were involved in a fatal accident. 11,814 cars at 60-plus mph were involved in a fatal accidents. In contrast, fewer than 4,800 vehicles traveling at 30 mph or slower were involved in a fatal crash.
Most vehicles are going straight when involved in fatal accidents, with those navigating a curve being second most common
Vehicle maneuvers play an important role in crash statistics. The most common type of maneuver that led to a fatal collision in 2019 were cars driving straight.
The top five most common driving maneuvers that resulted in a fatal accident in 2019 include:
| Type of Maneuver | Total # of Vehicles Involved in Fatal Accident Nationwide |
| Going Straight | 27,164 |
| Negotiating a Curve | 7,758 |
| Turning Left | 3,154 |
| Merging/Changing Lanes | 785 |
| Stopped in Traffic Lane | 595 |
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