For the First Time, We're More Likely to Die From Accidental Opioid Overdose Than Motor Vehicle Crash

National Safety Council analysis reveals trends that worsen the odds of dying accidentally. For the first time in U.S. history, a person is more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than from a motor vehicle crash, according to National Safety Council analysis. The odds of dying accidentally from an opioid overdose have risen to one in 96, eclipsing the odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash (one in 103). The National Safety Council unveiled the analysis on Injury Facts – the definitive resource for data around unintentional, preventable injuries – commonly known as "accidents." The nation's opioid crisis is fueling the Council's grim probabilities, and that crisis is worsening with an influx of illicit fentanyl. "We've made significant strides in overall longevity in the United States, but we are dying from things typically called accidents at rates we haven't seen in half a century," said Ken Kolosh, manager of statistics at the National Safety Council. "We cannot be complacent about 466 lives lost every day. This new analysis reinforces that we must consistently prioritize safety at work, at home, and on the road to prevent these dire outcomes."