Deadly Crashes In Illinois Increased At Nation's 3rd-Highest Rate

CHICAGO — The rate of fatal crashes in Illinois increased faster than all but two states over the decade ending in 2021, according to a recent analysis.

Data from the National Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows the state went from a rate of 11.61 deadly crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers in 2012 to 15.95 per 100,000 drivers in 2021.

That comes to an increase of more than 37 percent, the third highest in the nation.

Indiana, which already had a higher rate of deadly crashes a decade ago, increased at a slightly higher rate of just over 38 percent, the second-highest in the nation.

But both Midwestern states were outpaced by the dramatic increase in the rate of fatal crashes in Oregon, where fatalities were up by more than 62 percent.

The analysis was conducted by the offices of Atlanta personal injury lawyer John Foy.

“Over the past decade, people might imagine that driving has become safer, thanks to newer cars with better technology and higher safety standards, however this data shows that isn’t the case," Foy said in a statement.

Foy said a comparison of the rate of fatal crashes per every 100,000 licensed drivers shows there are only 14 states where the rate has decreased from 2012 to 2021.

Data shows the greatest decrease was in North Dakota, where it fell from a whopping 33.81 in 2012 to 18.37 in 2021 — a decline of nearly 46 percent. Hawaii, Wyoming and Maine also had double digit declines, the study found.

“There are many reasons as to why car crashes happen, whether that be the fault of an individual or weather conditions," Foy said, "but this analysis demonstrates that it is still absolutely essential for people to drive carefully, no matter where they are.”

But Illinois traffic safety data is not all bad. Even with the increase, it still only had the 29th-highest traffic fatality rate compared to other states in 2021.

And from 2021 to 2022, federal data showed the number of traffic fatalities declined by 4 percent — from 1,334 to 1,280 — though it still remained higher than pre-pandemic levels.

"In recent years we have seen decreasing motor vehicle crash fatalities in Illinois, including an all-time-Illinois low in 2009, but fatalities have increased significantly in 2020 and 2021," said Cynthia Watters, the highway safety representative for Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

"Overall, traffic fatalities in Illinois have decreased from 1,454 in 2003 to 1,334 in 2021," Watters said, in last year's annual report for the state highway safety plan. "Still, too many people are being killed or seriously injured on Illinois roadways."