Fatal wrong-way crashes on divided highways, United States, 2014-2023 (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)

Wrong-way crashes are rare, but often severe events. This brief serves as an update to previous AAA Foundation work examining these crashes from 2010 to 2018. Using FARS data, updated wrong-way crash numbers are provided, previously cited risk factors were examined in relation to the more recent crash data and potential new risk factors were explored.

A total of 4,164 fatal wrong-way crashes occurred on divided highways in the U.S. from 2014 to 2023, resulting in 5,730 deaths. The annual number of these crashes nationwide approximately doubled, from 278 in 2014 to 520 in 2023. In the same time frame, wrong-way crash fatalities increased at a rate that outpaced fatal crashes overall. While these events are still relatively rare, they have continued to steadily increase, indicating a potential growing safety issue.

Results show that older drivers, alcohol-impaired drivers, drivers without valid licenses and drivers of older vehicles have a higher risk of fatal wrong-way crashes, consistent with previous research. New insights from the current study include findings that the risk of fatal crashes is also increased in rural areas, in dawn/dusk and darkness, among drivers who live far away and among drivers of vehicles registered to other people.

Explore the full research brief on the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety website.