Studies show that speeding and aggressive driving are significant contributors to fatal crashes in the United States. This trend is true despite important innovations in car safety over the years. Recent statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) for 2018 show that over 25% of deadly crashes in the U.S. involved aggressive driving or unsafe speed. This totals up to more than 8,565 fatal accidents and more than 9,500 deaths related to those accidents. Below we will analyze the numbers from the NHTSA on speeding and aggressive driving and their relation to deadly traffic accidents.
State Rankings
The states with the most traffic-related deaths involving aggressive driving and unsafe speed are Texas (878) and California (848), according to the data. 32 states have speeding and aggressive driving rates higher than the national average of 25%. That being said, the ten states with the highest percentage of motorists who engage in speeding and aggressive driving include:
- Alaska, 54%
- District of Columbia, 50%
- New Hampshire, 46%
- Rhode Island, 45%
- Hawaii, 43%
- South Carolina, 43%
- Illinois, 42%
- Missouri, 38%
- Montana, 38%
- Vermont, 38%
The states with the lowest rates of aggressive or speeding drivers include:
- Mississippi 7%
- Florida ,9%
- Nebraska, 11%
- Kentucky, 15%
- Tennessee, 16%
- Louisiana, 17%
- Georgia, 18%
- Iowa, 19%
- New Jersey, 20%
- Idaho, 21%
Data shows that nearly half of the fatal accidents on America’s roads happened in unincorporated areas of the county outside of city limits and jurisdictions. When accidents did occur within a city limit, they most often occurred in large cities such as Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix and others.
Make, Model, and Street Racing
The research showed, surprisingly, that the 15 most common vehicles involved in fatal crashes involving speeding or aggressive driving were motorcycles and trucks — with only few passenger vehicles making the list. These include:
- Harley Davidson Motorcycles
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Ford F-Series
- Dodge Ram
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- Suzuki Motorcycles
- Toyota Camry
- Ford Mustang
Crashes where law enforcement documented that street racing was involved only attributed to 1.4% of the total speed-related crashes. Approximately 116 street racing-related crashes occured in 2018, claiming 153 lives.
Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
The NHTSA reports that aggressive driving and road rage contributed to 402 fatal accidents in 2018, resulting in 473 traffic-related deaths. According to the NHTSA, aggressive driving is “the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.” Behaviors that fall under aggressive driving include changing lanes without signaling, running a red light or a stop sign, improper passing, following too closely, and road rage. States that reported more than 10 deaths related to aggressive driving and road rage in 2018 include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, South Carolina, New York, and Texas.
Las Vegas Accident AttorneysIf you have been in an accident with an aggressive or speeding driver in Las Vegas or the greater Nevada area, it is important to contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to discuss your rights. H&P Law has years of experience helping victims in and out of the courtroom fighting for the compensation they deserve. Contact us today to speak with one of our experienced lawyers.
