NTSB News

National Transportation Safety Board
1997 U.S. Transportation Fatalities

   

1996

1997 1

Highway:

Passenger cars
Light trucks and vans
Pedestrians
Motorcycles
Pedalcycles
Medium and heavy trucks
Buses
All other
Total

22,416
9,901
5,412
2,160
761
621
21
615

41,907

22,227
10,323
5,300
2,099
800
711
15
525

42,000

Grade Crossings: 2

  

(488)

(450)

Rail:

 Intercity
  Trespassers and nontrespassers 3
  Employees and contractors
  Passengers on trains
  Light and commuter rail
Total
 570
42
12
128
752
 584
49
6
107
746

Marine:

  Recreational boating
Cargo transport
Commercial fishing 4
Total		  709
29
76
814		  800
16
54
870

Aviation:

 General aviation
Airlines
Air taxi
Commuter
Foreign / unregistered 5
Total

631
380
63
14
5

1,093

646
8
40
46
236

976

Pipeline:

 Gas 6
Liquids
Total

48
5

53

11
0

11
       

Grand Total:

  

44,619

44,603

11997 figures are preliminary estimates supplied by modal agencies within Department of Transportation.
2Grade crossing fatalities are not counted as a separate category for determining the grand totals because they are included in the highway and rail categories, as appropriate.
3Does not include motor vehicle occupants killed at grade crossings.
4 Refers to only operational fatalities.
5 Includes non-U.S. registered aircraft involved in accidents in the U.S.
6 The number of pipeline-related fatalities for 1996 gas systems includes 33 associated with the explosion in San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 21, 1996.