- A new study reveals Wyoming as the state most associated with fatal speeding incidents, recording the highest percentage of speeding-related fatal incidents.
- South Carolina ranks second, having one of the highest number of fatal speeding incidents, with notable speeding-related traffic collisions.
- Recording the highest number of crashes, North Carolina proves to be yet another one of the fatal speeding incidents states on the list.
BAM Personal Injury Lawyers carried out a study to determine the states in the US with a significant proportion of fatal speeding incidents linked to speeding offenses committed by drivers. Various factors were taken into account, such as population size, number of registered vehicles, frequency of fatal incidents, percentage of drivers with speeding violations, maximum speed limit, frequency of crashes involving unlicensed drivers, and enforcement of seatbelt usage by drivers. The resulting composite score was calculated to identify the US states that exhibit strong connections to the dangers associated with speeding.
Fatal Speeding Incidents by state
Wyoming is ranked as the top state in the US for having a high number of traffic speed violations. Despite its small population of 586,485 residents, Wyoming has a concerning 44.9% of fatal speeding incidents, which is one of the highest percentages in the country. In this state, 13.43% of drivers have been found to have speeding violations. Wyoming’s loose seatbelt laws, 80 mph speed limits, and minimal $5 starting fines may contribute to the development of conditions that encourage risky driving behavior.
South Carolina secures the second position, boasting a composite score of 95.4. The state, occupied by over 5.4 million individuals and housing a fleet of more than 5 million registered vehicles, witnessed a total of 1,019 fatal speeding incidents, out of which 36.8% were attributed to speeding. Despite the implementation of primary seatbelt enforcement, South Carolina still grapples with accidents stemming from excessive speed.
Colorado ranks third in terms of the highest number of speed violations with a total score of 92.6. Approximately 12.03% of drivers in the state have been reported for speeding, resulting in 699 fatal speeding incidents. Colorado’s speeding fines range from $15 to $100, which are among the lowest in the country. Additionally, the state has a secondary seatbelt enforcement policy. With a maximum speed limit of 75 mph, Colorado appears to promote risky driving behaviors.
Alaska ranks fourth in terms of composite score, scoring 90.5. Despite a relatively low number of registered vehicles at 559,800, the state has experienced a high rate of fatal speeding incidents at 34.7%. Despite implementing 65 mph speed limits, stricter $300 fines, and enforcing primary seatbelt laws, 12.4% of Alaska’s drivers have still accumulated speeding violations.
Utah, with a population of 3.4 million, holds the fifth position among the top 10 states with the highest prevalence of fatal speeding incidents. The state confronts notable difficulties concerning incidents associated with speeding, as 34.8% of fatal crashes in Utah involve excessive speed. Furthermore, close to 12% of drivers in the state have received citations for surpassing speed limits. With an impressive number of over 3 million registered vehicles traversing its roads, Utah has documented a total of 296 fatal incidents, out of which 103 incidents were directly attributed to violations of speed regulations.
North Dakota ranks sixth with a composite score of 83.7. The state has one of the highest rates of drivers with speeding tickets at 14.41%. Despite having a relatively low fatality rate, speed-related factors contribute to 27.1% of fatal crashes in North Dakota. The issue may be exacerbated by the starting fines of $5.
Washington takes seventh place. With nearly 7.8 million residents and 6.8 million registered vehicles, the state recorded 902 fatal speeding incidents, with 33.3% involving excessive speed. With a 70 mph speed limit and primary seatbelt laws, 12.17% of drivers still have speeding violations. The state documented 902 crashes involving unlicensed drivers, having broader issues with traffic law compliance. The state comes up with a 79.4 composite score.
Rhode Island is placed in the eighth position with a score of 76.1. The study reveals that the highest percentage of fatal accidents in Rhode Island, about 47.1%, occur due to speeding. Despite having primary seatbelt laws and fines beginning at $250, approximately 7.34% of drivers in Rhode Island have speeding violations on their records. Additionally, the state has reported a worrying number of 59 crashes involving unlicensed drivers, considering its relatively small population.
Ranked ninth on the list, North Carolina has a composite score of 74.5. The state holds the highest number of crashes involving unlicensed drivers, totaling 1,921 fatal speeding incidents nationwide. Furthermore, North Carolina ranks among the states with the highest percentage, 39.9%, of fatal incidents related to speeding out of its 1,500 recorded fatal incidents. Despite having relatively modest speed limits set at 70 mph and enforcing primary seatbelt laws, 9.61% of North Carolina drivers still receive speeding tickets.
Virginia is ranked number ten among the fastest states in the US, scoring a composite of 73.3. The state, which has a population of 8.7 million, experienced a total of 946 fatal accidents, with 29.2% of them attributed to speeding. Virginia imposes strict penalties for road violations, with fines ranging from $100 to $500, and enforces primary seatbelt laws. Despite these measures, 12.65% of Virginia drivers have speeding violations on their driving records.
A spokesperson from Benzion and Martineau commented on the study: “ Speeding continues to be a leading cause of fatal accidents across the U.S., with a significant percentage of fatalities linked directly to excessive speed. Despite existing speed limits and mandatory seatbelt laws, many states are still struggling with a troubling number of speed-related incidents. This issue is compounded by factors such as minimal fines for speeding, recurring violations, and a considerable presence of unlicensed drivers on the road. These trends highlight the need for tougher enforcement of traffic laws, higher fines for offenders, and better education on the dangers of speeding. A combined approach is necessary to prevent these avoidable tragedies.”
