Curious about motor vehicle safety trends? In our monthly report, we’ve gathered the essential statistics and insights to inform you about what’s happening on our roads right now.
Keeping updated and informed is essential as vehicle usage, technology advancements, and safety regulations constantly emerge and change. Read on to discover the freshest US data on road safety and industry news for March 2025.
Featured MVA Statistics This Month
Self-Driving Vehicle Accidents 2025 - Technology Updates and Safety Data
Number of ADS-Equipped Vehicles Crashes by Month in U.S., (2021-2025)
www.consumershield.com *2025 January data is available through January 15.
Source: NHTSA
Number of ADS-Equipped Vehicles Crashes by Company in U.S., (2021-2025)
www.consumershield.com *The data in the chart is from July 2021 until January 15, 2025.
Source: NHTSA
The latest statistics from March 2025 reveal a mixed picture of progress and challenges for self-driving vehicles. Generally, since 2021, crashes of cars equipped with ADS (Automated Driving Systems) have been going up, although the numbers fluctuate from month to month.
September to December 2024 saw a spike in self-driving vehicle accidents. Much of the increase in accidents can be attributed to the ever-increasing number of ADS-assisted vehicles on our roads. While numbers may be trending down for January 2025, we will have to wait for the release of the NHTSA’s latest data to draw conclusions. Here are some of the main trends for March 2025:
Latest Autonomous Vehicle Safety Statistics
According to the NHTSA, car makers of automated vehicles keep improving technology to make driving safer than ever before. However, a lack of updated safety statistics for the first months of 2025 makes it challenging to observe trends up to March 2025.
What we know is that autonomous vehicle safety statistics show promising improvements, and self-driving cars have faster reaction times than human-driven cars, which should help to drive down accident numbers in the future. A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that self-driving cars generally have fewer accidents than human drivers in most similar driving situations.
Recent Technological Developments
Self-driving technology is constantly evolving. Some recent technological improvements include:
- 5G Network Integration. 5G technology is enhancing real-time data processing and communication between autonomous vehicles, improving their ability to navigate more safely.
- Sensor Improvements. Improvements in radar, cameras, and LiDAR technology have allowed self-driving cars to understand their surroundings better and, as a result, make better driving decisions.
- AI Learning. Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms constantly improve the decision-making capabilities of autonomous vehicles.
Current Testing Data and Incident Reports
AV testing tends to be limited and designated to specific locations and conditions. The NHTSA’s Automated Vehicle Tracking Tool provides information on testing locations and vehicles. The tool is updated frequently.
As of March 2025, NHTSA’s latest available data from 2024 reveals monthly self-driving vehicle incidents fluctuated throughout the year, ranging from as few as 22 to as many as 80 crashes per month.
Explore our in-depth analysis of self-driving car accident trends →
Truck Accidents 2025 - Latest Statistics and Trends
Number of Truck Accidents Per Year in U.S., 2020-2025
www.consumershield.com*2025 data is available through January 31
Number of Fatal Truck Accidents Per Year in U.S., 2021-2025
www.consumershield.com*2025 data is available through January 31
As of March 2025, the data highlights a slight decrease in both the number of incidents and fatalities since a spike in truck accidents in 2021. This decline likely stems from improved truck safety features, stricter driving regulations, and truck drivers becoming more safety-conscious.
Latest Truck Accident Figures
- The latest figures available show 5,820 truck crashes in January 2025 alone.
- 2024 saw a total of 148,000 truck accidents, with 4,260 crashes involving fatalities.
Current Year-Over-Year Comparison Data
After a significant increase in 2021, truck accidents have steadily declined for three consecutive years.
| Year | Number of Accidents | Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 143,000 | Baseline |
| 2021 | 166,000 | ↑ 16.1% |
| 2022 | 165,000 | ↓ 0.6% |
| 2023 | 152,000 | ↓ 7.9% |
| 2024 | 148,000 | ↓ 2.6% |
Fatal truck crashes have followed their own patterns in recent years:
- 2021: 5,610 fatal crashes
- 2022: 5,800 fatal crashes (peak)
- 2023: 4,860 fatal crashes
- 2024: 4,260 fatal crashes
- 2025: 102 fatal crashes (as of January 31)
It’s too early to predict how 2025 will look since we only have one month of data. However, the good news is that deadly truck accidents have dropped significantly over the last two years. This improvement may be due to constantly evolving truck safety features and improved training for truck drivers.
Recent Safety Trend Information
Trucks are getting safer due to numerous recent technology innovations and safety trends, including:
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). A recent NHTSA study shows that systems, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) and forward-collision warnings, reduce crash frequency by approximately 50%.
- Rear-View Cameras. Adding rear-view cameras to trucks and other large commercial vehicles reduces blind spots and improves overall safety.
- Forward Collision Warning Systems. These systems alert drivers if they are too close to another vehicle, helping to prevent rear-end collisions.
Unfortunately, despite these technological developments, truck crashes still occur due to negligent driver conduct, such as speeding and distracted driving, and for other reasons.
Read our complete analysis of truck accident statistics →
Key Findings This Month
Our analysis of this month's data reveals several significant trends affecting motor vehicle safety:
- Self-driving car crashes have generally increased since 2021, with a notable spike from September to December 2024.
- Truck accidents have declined for three consecutive years after peaking in 2021.
- Fatal truck crashes dropped significantly from 5,800 in 2022 to 4,260 in 2024.
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in trucks reduce crash frequency by approximately 50% according to NHTSA data.
Learn More: Explore our comprehensive research on annual accident statistics, vehicle fatalities, and other specialized accident data.
Industry News and Updates
Recent Safety Developments
- Recalls of self-driving vehicles during 2024 have affected companies Cruise and Waymo.
- 5G Network Integration provides enhanced real-time data processing and communication between self-driving vehicles, improving navigation capabilities.
- A recent study in Nature Communications shows that self-driving cars typically have fewer crashes than human drivers in most similar driving situations.
Regulatory and Legal Updates
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed new rules for self-driving cars in December 2024. These rules aim to establish a voluntary national framework for the evaluation and oversight of vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS).
- One of the largest verdicts ($462 million) was rendered by a jury in 2024 in a truck accident case in St. Louis City. The jury found trailer manufacturer Wabash National Corporation responsible for the deaths of two young fathers killed when their car went underneath the rear of a trailer.
Emerging Trends
- Truck accidents and particularly fatal incidents are trending downward and have dropped from 5,800 in 2022 to 4,260 in 2024.
- The emerging integration of multiple safety systems in self-driving vehicles combining technologies like 5G connectivity, improved sensors, and AI learning algorithms create safer autonomous driving systems.
Related Research and Resources
Settlement Information
Understanding potential compensation is crucial for accident victims. Explore our research:
- Average Car Accident Settlement
- Average Settlement for Minor Car Accidents
- Pain and Suffering Settlements
- Broken Bone Settlements
- Whiplash Settlement Averages
- Soft Tissue Injury Settlements
Accident Types and Statistics
Learn more about specific accident scenarios:
- T-Bone Accident Payouts
- Truck Accident Settlements
- Motorcycle Accident Settlements
- Pedestrian Accident Payouts
- Drunk Driving Accident Settlements
- Bus Accident Settlements
Accident Statistics and Trends
Explore our comprehensive accident data:
- Car Accidents Per Year
- Car Accidents Per Day
- Annual Traffic Fatalities
- Motorcycle Deaths Each Year
- Bicycle Deaths Per Year
- E-Bike and E-Scooter Accidents
- Vehicle Fires Per Year
Vehicle and Driver Information
Learn about the current state of vehicles on American roads:
- How Many Cars in the U.S.
- Average Cars Per Household
- How Many Truck Drivers
- How Many Electric Cars in U.S.
- Average Miles Driven Per Year
- Most Dangerous Cars
- How Many New Cars Are Sold Each Year
Risk Factors and Prevention
Understand the leading causes of accidents:
- Leading Causes of Vehicle Accidents
- Texting and Driving Statistics
- Distracted Driving Statistics
- Drunk Driving Deaths Each Year
About Our Data
This report compiles data from multiple authoritative sources, including:
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- State departments of transportation
- Automotive industry reports
- ConsumerShield's proprietary database
Data is collected, analyzed, and verified by our team of safety researchers and legal experts. While we strive for accuracy, statistics may be subject to revision as more information becomes available.
Our next report will be published on April 7, 2025
