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Illinois Crash Data · 2024

2024 Illinois Car Accident Statistics

A comprehensive analysis of every reportable crash on Illinois roads

In 2024, Illinois recorded 303,913 motor vehicle crashes resulting in 1,178 deaths and 89,023 injuries. This data reveals when, where, and how crashes happen — information that can help you understand the risks on Illinois roads.

0Total Crashes
0Total Deaths
0Estimated Total Cost
Illinois Highway Safety Clock

1 crash every
1 minute 44 seconds

~833 crashes per day
3+ people killed per day
10+ people injured per hour

Illinois Driving Overview

10,998,170 Registered Motor Vehicles
9,354,742 Licensed Drivers
104.24 billion Vehicle Miles Traveled (Billions)
1.1 Mileage Death Rate (per 100M VMT)

Crashes by Day of Week

Friday is the most dangerous day to drive in Illinois, with 50,004 total crashes. The greatest number of crashes occurred on Fridays, with 32,611 in urban locations and 17,393 in rural locations.

Monday
42,522
Tuesday
45,125
Wednesday
43,673
Thursday
45,167
Friday
50,004
Saturday
41,482
Sunday
35,315

Fatal Crashes by Day of Week

Sunday is the deadliest day on Illinois roads, with 201 total fatal crashes. The greatest number occurred in urban locations (152) and rural locations (49).

FatalFatal Crashes
Monday
149
Tuesday
128
Wednesday
133
Thursday
135
Friday
154
Saturday
185
Sunday
201
Speed was a factor in 31.1% of total crashes and 45.3% of fatal crashes.

Crashes by Time of Day

More than 66% of all crashes occurred between 8 a.m. and 7:59 p.m. Of these crashes, 65.6% occurred on urban roads.

12-3:59 a.m.
25,869
4-7:59 a.m.
42,564
8-11:59 a.m.
58,995
12-3:59 p.m.
71,750
4-7:59 p.m.
70,841
8-11:59 p.m.
33,269

Fatal Crashes by Time of Day

59% of all fatal crashes occurred between 4 p.m. and 3:59 a.m. Of these crashes, 75.9% occurred on urban roads (486 crashes).

FatalFatal Crashes
12-3:59 a.m.
173
4-7:59 a.m.
123
8-11:59 a.m.
128
12-3:59 p.m.
194
4-7:59 p.m.
224
8-11:59 p.m.
243

Crashes by Type of Collision

Fixed object crashes comprise the largest number of fatal crashes at 26.82%. Front-to-rear collisions account for the highest number of injury crashes.

Fixed object crashes are the deadliest type with 291 fatalities, followed by pedestrian crashes (202).

FatalTotal
Front to Rear
74,505
Turning
54,608
Minor Arterial/Toll
43,482
Sideswipe-Same Direction
39,491
Parked
35,144
Angle
29,747
Fixed Object
25,996
Animal
15,245
Other Object
5,437
Pedestrian
4,636
Pedalcyclist
3,369
Sideswipe-Opposite Direction
2,936
80.3% of fatal crashes occurred on dry roads — bad weather is not the primary cause of deadly accidents.

Crashes by Type of Road

64.45% of crashes occurred on urban roads, while 68.32% of all injury crashes occurred on urban roads.

64.45%Urban
35.34%Rural
Urban crashes195,872
Rural crashes107,416
Urban fatal crashes774
Rural fatal crashes311

Urban Road Breakdown

Road TypeTotalFatalInjury
Freeway & Expressway/Toll1,4926266
Interstate/Toll33,2401224,584
Local Road or Street/Toll35,753767,350
Major Collector/Toll24,543776,136
Minor Arterial/Toll43,48219711,152
Minor Collector/Toll3,1559747
Other Principal Arterial/Toll54,20728712,881

Rural Road Breakdown

Road TypeTotalFatalInjury
Freeway & Expressway87011
Interstate/Toll4,24931723
Local Road or Street4,18650959
Major Collector5,805951,367
Minor Arterial5,574631,198
Minor Collector79011194
Other Principal Arterial4,02458817

Economic Cost of Illinois Crashes

Based on National Safety Council estimates for 2024. The estimated costs measure dollars spent and income not received because of crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

$8.3 billion Estimated total economic cost of Illinois crashes in 2024
$2,009,575Fatality
$171,925Incapacitating Injury (A-Injury)
$45,300Non-Incapacitating Evident Injury (B-Injury)
$27,795Possible Injury (C-Injury)
$6,485Property Damage Crash

Illinois Fatalities and Vehicle Miles Traveled (2005-2024)

20-year trend showing the relationship between traffic fatalities and vehicle miles traveled in Illinois.

Fatalities8209731,1261,2781,43120052010201520202009 Low: 9112020 COVID: 1,1952024: 1,178

Who Gets Hurt in Illinois Crashes

Of the 1,178 people killed in Illinois crashes in 2024, the majority were drivers. Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities remain a critical concern.

1,178Total Killed
Drivers Killed54%
Passengers Killed16%
Pedestrians Killed16%
Motorcyclists Killed11%
Pedalcyclists Killed3%

Injury Breakdown by Road User

Who gets injured in Illinois crashes — all injury severities combined.

Drivers66.2%
Passengers25.2%
Pedestrians5.1%
Cyclists3.4%
Pedestrian fatalities represented 18.4% of all deaths — an 11.3% increase from 2023.

Motor Vehicles Involved in Crashes by Type

Passenger cars account for the vast majority of vehicles involved in crashes. However, motorcycles have a disproportionately high fatality rate relative to their involvement.

1% of crashes, 12.5% of fatalities Motorcycles were in just 3,444 crashes but accounted for 148 fatal crashes — a fatality rate 20x higher than passenger cars.
Vehicle TypeTotal InvolvedFatal CrashesOccupants KilledA-Injuries
Passenger Car338,6177404403,810
SUV109,8343271401,037
Pickup Truck43,72819586519
Van24,4707237220
Truck-Tractor with Semi-Trailer12,184981564
Other Single Unit Truck9,25237938
Motorcycle3,444148144928
School Bus1,156249
Other Bus3,7725012
Farm Tractor/Equipment275439

Seatbelt and Restraint Usage

Occupant restraint usage data for people killed and injured in crashes.

197Drivers killed — unbelted
224Drivers killed — belted
58Passengers killed — unbelted
65Passengers killed — belted

Key Takeaways from the 2024 Illinois Crash Data

  • Speed was a factor in 31.1% of total crashes, 45.3% of fatal crashes, and 35.2% of injury crashes.
  • 80.3% of fatal crashes occurred on dry roads, challenging the assumption that bad weather is the primary cause of deadly accidents.
  • 45.8% of fatal crashes occurred during daylight hours.
  • Crashes involving an A-injury (incapacitating) accounted for 10.6% of injury crashes.
  • The average number of deaths per fatal crash was 1.1.
  • Pedestrian fatalities represented 18.4% of all fatalities, an 11.3% increase from 2023.
  • Passenger fatalities represented 17.7% of all deaths, a 4.5% increase from 2023.

Injured in an Illinois Car Accident?

The attorneys at Nelson & Nelson have decades of experience representing crash victims across Southern Illinois. If you or a loved one has been injured, contact us for a free consultation.

Or call (618) 277-4000