53,000
estimated road-debris crashes each year
The AAA Foundation estimated 319,724 U.S. crashes involving road debris from 2018 to 2023, or about 53,000 a year.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, November 2025 ↗Roadway reference
Road debris and windshield safety statistics.
Current U.S. figures on roadway debris, traffic risk, and the vehicle technology that makes a clear windshield more important than ever.
Last updated September 25, 2026. Every figure below includes its original source and publication date.
At a glance
The road ahead is not always predictable.
Road debris can be an object falling from another vehicle, cargo or building material on the roadway, or natural debris. It can cause a crash when a vehicle strikes it, is struck by it, or when a driver loses control while trying to avoid it. The figures below help put that exposure into context.
5,500
estimated injuries each year
The same 2018 to 2023 analysis estimated 32,802 injuries, averaging about 5,500 annually.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, November 2025 ↗72
estimated deaths each year
The AAA Foundation estimated 433 fatalities in road-debris crashes from 2018 to 2023, or about 72 each year.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, November 2025 ↗36,640
estimated people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2025
NHTSA's early 2025 estimate is 6.7% lower than 2024, with a fatality rate of 1.10 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, April 2026 ↗3.3 trillion
vehicle-miles traveled on U.S. roads in 2024
Federal Highway Administration data puts the scale of annual road exposure into context across the nation’s 4.2 million miles of roads.
Federal Highway Administration, 2026 ↗32%
of registered vehicles were estimated to have front automatic emergency braking in 2024
The Highway Loss Data Institute estimates that figure will reach 55% in 2029 as newer technology reaches more vehicles on the road.
Highway Loss Data Institute, May 2025 ↗What the data shows
Road debris is a real part of everyday driving exposure.
The newest AAA Foundation research found that the most common debris sources in confirmed crashes were detached vehicle parts, cargo such as tools and building materials, and natural debris. Its analysis also found that crashes following an attempt to avoid debris tended to be more severe than crashes in which a vehicle struck or was struck by the debris.
That is why windshield care is about more than appearance. A clean, undamaged driving surface supports a clear view of changing road conditions. When glass does need repair or replacement, vehicle-specific guidance from a qualified professional remains the right place to start.
Sources and methodology
Where these figures come from.
This page uses the latest available figures from the named primary research and public-safety sources. Dates refer to each source's publication date or reporting year. Impact Defense USA does not conduct or alter these studies.
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: The Safety Impact of Road Debris, 2018 to 2023 (published November 2025).
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 2025 Traffic Death Estimates and 2024 annual data (published April 2026).
- Federal Highway Administration: Our Nation’s Highways 2026, driving data (published 2026, using 2024 travel data).
- Highway Loss Data Institute: Predicted availability of safety features on registered vehicles (published May 2025).
Cite this page
Impact Defense USA. "Road Debris and Windshield Safety Statistics." Updated September 25, 2026. https://impactdefenseusa.com/windshield-road-debris-statistics
Protect the view ahead