What share of US traffic deaths were in Colorado?

In 2023, Colorado accounted for 1.76% of the 40,901 motor-vehicle traffic fatalities recorded across the United States, ranking it #22 of 51 jurisdictions by count. Because this is an absolute count, a state's share is shaped by its population and how many miles its residents drive. Source: NHTSA FARS 2023.

Is Colorado one of the most dangerous states to drive in?

Colorado ranks #22 of 51 US jurisdictions by total traffic fatalities (720 in 2023). Importantly, this is an absolute count, not a risk rate — states with larger populations and more driving record more fatalities. To judge how dangerous the roads are relative to travel, a rate per 100,000 people or per mile driven is needed; this figure shows the fatality burden, not per-capita risk. Source: NHTSA FARS 2023.

FARS is the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a nationwide census run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation. It records every fatal motor-vehicle traffic crash on a public road in the United States. These figures come from the FARS 2023 Annual Report File, published as Traffic Safety Facts "State Traffic Data 2023" (DOT HS 813 743). U.S. Government public domain.

Colorado traffic crash statistics

2023 · NHTSA FARS · U.S. Government public domain

How many traffic fatalities were there in Colorado?

In 2023, Colorado recorded 720 motor-vehicle traffic fatalities, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). That ranks Colorado #22 of 51 US jurisdictions by total traffic deaths and accounts for 1.76% of the 40,901 US total. These are absolute counts, not population-adjusted rates. Source: NHTSA FARS 2023, U.S. Government public domain.

Source:NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2023 Annual Report File (ARF), via Traffic Safety Facts "State Traffic Data 2023" (DOT HS 813 743)·as of 2023updated annually (last: 27 June 2026)

Traffic fatalities: 720
National rank: #22 of 51
Share of US total: 1.76%

These are neutral official statistics from NHTSA FARS — absolute fatality counts, not risk rates. Colorado's total is influenced by its population and how many miles its residents drive, so it is not a direct measure of how dangerous the roads are per journey, nor an insurance premium predictor.

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Traffic fatalities

720

2023

National rank

#22

of 51

Share of US total

1.76%

of 40,901

vs jurisdiction avg

-10%

avg 802

Colorado: 720 motor-vehicle traffic fatalities in 2023 (rank #22 of 51, 1.76% of the U.S. total of 40,901). Source: NHTSA FARS 2023. These are absolute counts, not population-adjusted rates: larger, more populous states naturally record more fatalities, so this does not measure how dangerous a state's roads are per mile driven.

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Colorado traffic crash statistics — frequently asked questions

How many traffic fatalities were there in Colorado in 2023?: In 2023, Colorado recorded 720 motor-vehicle traffic fatalities, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). That ranks Colorado #22 of 51 US jurisdictions by total traffic deaths and accounts for 1.76% of the 40,901 US total. These are absolute counts, not population-adjusted rates. Source: NHTSA FARS 2023, U.S. Government public domain.
What share of US traffic deaths were in Colorado?: In 2023, Colorado accounted for 1.76% of the 40,901 motor-vehicle traffic fatalities recorded across the United States, ranking it #22 of 51 jurisdictions by count. Because this is an absolute count, a state's share is shaped by its population and how many miles its residents drive. Source: NHTSA FARS 2023.
Is Colorado one of the most dangerous states to drive in?: Colorado ranks #22 of 51 US jurisdictions by total traffic fatalities (720 in 2023). Importantly, this is an absolute count, not a risk rate — states with larger populations and more driving record more fatalities. To judge how dangerous the roads are relative to travel, a rate per 100,000 people or per mile driven is needed; this figure shows the fatality burden, not per-capita risk. Source: NHTSA FARS 2023.
What is NHTSA FARS?: FARS is the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a nationwide census run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation. It records every fatal motor-vehicle traffic crash on a public road in the United States. These figures come from the FARS 2023 Annual Report File, published as Traffic Safety Facts "State Traffic Data 2023" (DOT HS 813 743). U.S. Government public domain.

States near Colorado in the fatality-count ranking

Also see: all 51 jurisdictions and the US national total.

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Contains public sector information published by NHTSA (U.S. Department of Transportation) and licensed under the U.S. Government public domain. Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2023 Annual Report File (ARF), via Traffic Safety Facts "State Traffic Data 2023" (DOT HS 813 743) (2023).