Fatal crashes in Maine
In 2024, 177 people died in 167 fatal crashes on Maine roads, 31.1% more than in 2023. That is 0.5% of all road deaths in the United States.
Maine ranks 41st of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and joint 20th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Maine since 1975
Road deaths in Maine peaked in 1980 at 265; 2024's 177 is 33% below that. The lowest year was 2014 with 131. 2024 is 5% above 2000 and 21% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 177 | 167 | +31.1% |
| 2023 | 135 | 127 | -25.8% |
| 2022 | 182 | 171 | +19.0% |
| 2021 | 153 | 135 | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 164 | 151 | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 157 | 143 | +15.4% |
| 2018 | 136 | 127 | -21.4% |
| 2017 | 173 | 163 | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 160 | 150 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 156 | 144 | +19.1% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 131 | 115 | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 144 | 136 | -12.2% |
| 2012 | 164 | 151 | +20.6% |
| 2011 | 136 | 126 | -15.5% |
| 2010 | 161 | 144 | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 159 | 153 | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 155 | 144 | -15.3% |
| 2007 | 183 | 170 | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 188 | 171 | +11.2% |
| 2005 | 169 | 151 | -12.9% |
| 2004 | 194 | 178 | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 207 | 186 | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 216 | 186 | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 192 | 170 | +13.6% |
| 2000 | 169 | 157 | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 181 | 168 | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 192 | 176 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 192 | 172 | +13.6% |
| 1996 | 169 | 157 | -9.6% |
| 1995 | 187 | 170 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 188 | 166 | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 185 | 168 | -13.6% |
| 1992 | 214 | 189 | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 205 | 181 | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 213 | 196 | +9.8% |
| 1989 | 194 | 179 | -24.2% |
| 1988 | 256 | 231 | +10.3% |
| 1987 | 232 | 212 | +8.4% |
| 1986 | 214 | 191 | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 206 | 189 | -11.2% |
| 1984 | 232 | 211 | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 224 | 198 | +34.9% |
| 1982 | 166 | 151 | -24.2% |
| 1981 | 219 | 191 | -17.4% |
| 1980 | 265 | 236 | +12.3% |
| 1979 | 236 | 200 | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 237 | 206 | +11.3% |
| 1977 | 213 | 195 | -6.6% |
| 1976 | 228 | 202 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 223 | 200 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in Maine
I-95 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Maine from 2015 to 2024: 97, with 105 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 41% of all fatal crashes in Maine from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 6 US routes, 12 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (2 crashes). Over 2022 to 2024 alone, US 1 had the most, 34 against 33 on I-95. Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Maine, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-95 | 97 | 105 | 33 | Penobscot, York, Kennebec |
| 2 | US 1 | 92 | 103 | 34 | Aroostook, Washington, Cumberland |
| 3 | State Highway 4 | 41 | 49 | 18 | Androscoggin, York, Franklin |
| 4 | US 2 | 39 | 41 | 18 | Penobscot, Somerset, Franklin |
| 5 | US 202 | 37 | 40 | 16 | Kennebec, York, Androscoggin |
| 6 | State Highway 11 | 32 | 32 | 14 | York, Penobscot, Cumberland |
| 7 | State Highway 9 | 30 | 35 | 9 | Washington, Androscoggin, York |
| 8 | US 201 | 26 | 28 | 14 | Somerset, Kennebec, Sagadahoc |
| 9 | State Highway 15 | 23 | 23 | 9 | Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis |
| 10 | State Highway 26 | 22 | 28 | 10 | Oxford, Cumberland, Androscoggin |
| 11 | US 1A | 22 | 23 | 6 | Hancock, Penobscot, Waldo |
| 12 | State Highway 117 | 19 | 19 | 5 | Oxford, York, Androscoggin |
| 13 | State Highway 3 | 19 | 19 | 6 | Waldo, Hancock, Kennebec |
| 14 | State Highway 17 | 18 | 21 | 2 | Kennebec, Knox, Oxford |
| 15 | I-295 | 18 | 20 | 5 | Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Kennebec |
| 16 | State Highway 5 | 17 | 19 | 5 | York, Oxford |
| 17 | US 302 | 16 | 18 | 8 | Cumberland, Oxford |
| 18 | State Highway 27 | 13 | 13 | 4 | Franklin, Kennebec, Lincoln |
| 19 | State Highway 7 | 12 | 12 | 4 | Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo |
| 20 | State Highway 196 | 11 | 13 | 3 | Androscoggin, Sagadahoc |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in Maine as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/maine/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Maine
Cumberland County had the most fatal crashes in Maine from 2015 to 2024: 197, with 212 deaths. Cumberland, York and Penobscot counties together held 38% of fatal crashes in Maine from 2015 to 2024. 16 counties in Maine recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 16 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Hancock County has the highest rate in Maine: 19.4 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 11.7 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cumberland County | 21 | 197 | 212 | 7.3 |
| 2 | York County | 25 | 195 | 210 | 11.4 |
| 3 | Penobscot County | 21 | 172 | 187 | 15.3 |
| 4 | Kennebec County | 20 | 140 | 155 | 15.6 |
| 5 | Androscoggin County | 13 | 113 | 118 | 12.1 |
| 6 | Hancock County | 6 | 98 | 108 | Not enough data |
| 7 | Oxford County | 12 | 92 | 101 | 21.7 |
| 8 | Somerset County | 14 | 92 | 97 | 29.2 |
| 9 | Aroostook County | 10 | 79 | 85 | 15.0 |
| 10 | Waldo County | 5 | 65 | 68 | Not enough data |
| 11 | Washington County | 3 | 54 | 58 | Not enough data |
| 12 | Franklin County | 5 | 43 | 46 | Not enough data |
| 13 | Lincoln County | 3 | 43 | 44 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Knox County | 3 | 38 | 44 | Not enough data |
| 15 | Sagadahoc County | 5 | 31 | 32 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Piscataquis County | 1 | 26 | 28 | Not enough data |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/maine/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Maine
The heaviest slot is Saturday, noon to 4 pm, with 60 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 4 pm to 5 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 58 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 23 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.8 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 58 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 55 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 51 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.6 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 57 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.2%
- Feb4.1%
- Mar4.4%
- Apr5.2%
- May10.0%
- Jun9.9%
- Jul10.4%
- Aug12.0%
- Sep11.4%
- Oct9.7%
- Nov8.3%
- Dec8.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Maine: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
81% of fatal crashes in Maine from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 15% happened at or near an intersection, below the US share of 25%; 30% in the dark on unlit roads, above the US share of 28%; most, 56%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Maine | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 81% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 15% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 56% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 8.4% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 30% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Maine roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 72% of the 177 people killed on Maine roads in 2024; motorcyclists 20% (35), pedestrians 7.3% (13), cyclists 0.6% (1).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 128 | 72% |
| Motorcyclists | 35 | 20% |
| Pedestrians | 13 | 7.3% |
| Cyclists | 1 | 0.6% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Maine: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 37% of fatal crashes in Maine from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 28%, about the US share; a hit-and-run in 1.3%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 7.6%, below the US share of 8.7%; 52% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (1,084 in Maine).
| Maine | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 37% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 28% | 27% | about the same as the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.6% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.3% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 16% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 39%; a collision with another vehicle in 34%, a pedestrian in 9.7%, a rollover in 9.0%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 578 | 39% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 506 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 143 | 9.7% |
| Rollover | 133 | 9.0% |
| Other | 85 | 5.8% |
| Cyclist | 17 | 1.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 16 | 1.1% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Maine
Cars were 36% of the 2,072 vehicles in fatal crashes in Maine from 2015 to 2024, SUVs 20%, pickups 19%, motorcycles 13%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 739 | 36% |
| SUVs | 410 | 20% |
| Pickups | 389 | 19% |
| Motorcycles | 265 | 13% |
| Other trucks | 107 | 5.2% |
| Vans | 83 | 4.0% |
| Truck-tractors | 72 | 3.5% |
| Buses | 7 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Maine per resident and per mile driven
| Maine | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 12.6 | 11.5 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 11.7 | 11.8 | about the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.17 | 1.19 | about the US rate |
Population 1,405,012 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 15,161 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in Maine
- How many people died in car accidents in Maine in 2024?
- 177 people died in 167 fatal crashes on Maine roads in 2024, 31.1% more than in 2023. That is 12.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Maine?
- I-95 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Maine from 2015 to 2024: 97, with 105 deaths. US 1 was second with 92.
- Which county in Maine has the most fatal crashes?
- Cumberland County, with 197 fatal crashes and 212 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 21 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Maine happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, noon to 4 pm, with 60 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Maine involved a drinking driver?
- 545 of 1,478 fatal crashes in Maine from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 37%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Maine
Every county in Maine with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
Road pages for Maine
Every numbered road in Maine with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Maine numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.