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U.S. road deaths per mile driven are claimed to be almost 3× Sweden’s, despite…

2026-08-07 · 18:42 UTC ·@jasonc_nc ·1 min read

Brief

Jason (@jasonc_nc) argues that higher U.S. road deaths cannot be blamed on density or driving volume: he cites Sweden and Stockholm comparisons showing far lower fatalities (U.S. deaths per mile nearly 3× Sweden’s; Seattle vs Stockholm: auto 3×, pedestrian 6×, bike 2×, overall ~4× higher risk). He links the gap to wider U.S. lane standards (12–14' lanes, 26' two‑lane minimum) versus Stockholm’s ~9.8' lanes and says narrowing proposals are blocked, characterizing U.S. street design as negligent.

Why it matters

U.S. road deaths per mile driven are claimed to be almost 3× Sweden’s, despite Sweden having lower overall population density and only ~5 percentage points higher urbanization.

Key details

  • Comparing cities of similar area: Stockholm has ~25% more people than Seattle, yet Seattle’s auto deaths per capita are 3× Stockholm’s, pedestrian fatalities are 6×, bicyclist fatalities 2×, making a Seattle resident ~4× as likely to die on a city street as a Stockholm resident.
  • Design and standards differ: Stockholm uses ~9.8' city-lane widths (10.8' in bus/truck corridors) while U.S. practice sets a 26' minimum for a two‑lane street with common lane widths of 12–14'; the post says narrowing proposals are routinely blocked (often by fire departments) and calls U.S. street design 'intentional' negligence that encourages speeds well above limits.
Source evidence

“These comparisons aren’t fair. America is less dense so we have to drive more”.

We do drive more but this can be adjusted by deaths per mile. But if you want to use density as a reason (really an excuse to do nothing) we have some problems. Namely that we have comparable density to plenty of places with far better safety outcomes.

For example Sweden has lower population density than the U.S. And urban population is only 5 points higher so it’s not that either. Yet US road deaths are almost 3x per mile driven vs Sweden.

Maybe you say America is big, these comparisons aren’t fair. So let’s compare Stockholm to say Seattle. Same total area, with Stockholm having ~25% more people.

Seattle’s auto deaths per capita are 3x Stockholm’s. Meanwhile pedestrian rates are 6x and bicyclists 2x. And there are far fewer of either in Seattle.

The end result is a Seattle resident is 4x as likely to die on a city street than one in Stockholm.

It’s not driving more. It’s not population density. It’s the intentional design of our streets, even while knowing they encourage speeds well over the legal limit. In any other context this would be called gross negligence.

Jason, (@jasonc_nc)

Stockholm’s pedestrian fatality rate per 100k is 0.45. The U.S. is over 5x that.

Like much of the EU Stockholm uses standards of 9.8’ for city street lanes, even narrower for residential ones, and allows for 10.8’ in bus and truck corridors. The U.S. sets 26’ as a minimum width for a two lane street and common lane widths on city streets are 12-14’.

Yet when proposals are made to narrrow lane widths along dangerous streets, local fire departments are first in line to stop them.

— https://nitter.net/jasonc_nc/status/2065865797184926064#m