These driving patterns could kill you — or someone else

Nearly 39,300 people died in traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2024 — an average of 107 deaths that didn’t have to happen every single day.

That’s according to an analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data by the law firm Siegfried & Jensen, which specializes in personal injury cases. The firm was interested in creating a breakdown of what types of driving behavior, locations, ages and other factors lead to fatal crashes.

A report on the study noted that “while it may be easy to think of this data as just that, we want to bring attention to the fact that these are real people who have lost their lives.”

Here’s what the report found about reckless driving, which is a key factor in most road deaths:

What are the deadliest reckless driving behaviors?

• Drunk driving is the deadliest form of reckless driving. In 2024, there were 10,832 fatal crashes in which drivers were alcohol-impaired, and 11,904 people died as a result of those crashes. And that was just the deadly crashes. Drunk driving leads to about 30% of all crash fatalities each year. And in more than two-thirds of those, the blood-alcohol level is extreme: .15 g/dL which is close to double the federal legal limit of .08 g/dL and three times Utah’s limit. Drunk driving deaths “notably spike” at certain times of the year and June is the deadliest for this type of crash (1,028 fatal crashes, killing 1,130 people). May through September post higher monthly totals than the rest of the year when it comes to alcohol-related fatalities.
• High speeds trail drunk driving by about 600 deaths, claiming 11,288 in 2024 and contributing to about 29% of traffic deaths, per the report. NHTSA counts a crash as speeding-related when a driver is ticketed for a speeding offense, racing or when the officer notes the driver was going too fast for conditions. “This ultimately means that the true scope of speeding as a contributory factor may be much broader than the fatality count reflects,” per the report. May through September are the most speeding-laden months.
• Distracted driving was responsible for 3,208 deaths in 2024 or 1 in 12 traffic fatalities. Because there’s no test like a blood-alcohol test, it’s harder to count those cases and “really depends on the transparency and honesty of the driver.” That means distracted driving is probably undercounted. While cellphones are considered the most common source of distraction, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said the car itself can contribute a lot of risk, including the infotainment system with voice and touchscreen features. Removing eyes from the road for five seconds while traveling 55 mph can cover the length of a football field in that time. It’s like driving that distance blindfolded. And speech-to-text systems and hands-free systems can take the driver’s mind away from the road long enough to be a major problem. August to October lead with the number of distracted driving deaths. January and February had the fewest.

Who are the reckless drivers?

The report says men make up about 70% of traffic deaths, across all categories of reckless driving. “Researchers have long linked this trend to higher rates of risk-taking behavior, including excessive speed, impaired driving, seatbelt noncompliance and aggressive driving.”

Young drivers are a high-risk group. Drivers ages 15 to 20 are in fatal crashes at higher rates than their share of licensed drivers would predict — especially young male drivers.

Working-age adults, though, have the most fatal crashes. That includes drivers ages 25 to 44. They were involved in more than one-third of traffic deaths in 2024. The report said that age group naturally spends more time driving, which bumps up risky behavior, including speeding, distraction, fatigue and impairment.

Which states have the most fatal crashes?

Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Montana, Wyoming and Louisiana “consistently” have among the highest per-capita death rates from vehicle crashes in the country. Heavily populated states have the most fatal crashes, but on a per-capita basis, across multiple categories, those states have the most deadly crashes.

The report cites several reasons why that could be the case, including extensive rural road networks and longer distances traveled at high speed. Emergency response takes more time, too, so that raises the risk a serious injury can be lethal as people wait for life-sustaining help.

Lack of public transportation is also a factor, making it more likely people will drive “regardless of weather, impairment or fatigue,” per the report.

What are the top 10 states for drunk driving?

According to the report, if one adjusts for population, the smaller, more rural states are the most dangerous. Mississippi had the highest per-capita rate of drunk driving, followed by Arkansas, South Carolina, New Mexico and Alabama.

Rounding out the top 10 were Wyoming, Montana, Tennessee, Louisiana and Arizona.

The states have quite a bit in common, per the report, including long rural roads, limited public transportation, long distances to travel and fewer alternatives to driving if someone has been drinking.

What are the top states for speeding deaths?

Speeding deaths counted on a per-capita basis were found at higher rates in Montana, followed by South Carolina, Wyoming, New Mexico, North Carolina, Arizona, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri and Vermont.

“The data suggests that speeding is not simply an urban problem. In many cases, it is rural roads that carry the greatest risk,” per the report.

What are the top states for distracted driving deaths?

New Mexico has more distracted-driving-related deaths than any other state, at 7.52 per 100,000 residents, which is more than double that of most states in the top 10. Louisiana comes in second with five per 100,000 and actually tied with New Jersey for the most people killed by distracted drivers in 2024. On the per-capita list, New Mexico and Louisiana are followed by Kentucky, Hawaii, Kansas, Idaho, New Jersey, Washington, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Are some states improving?

The states that have seen traffic death rates fall include Tennessee, Colorado and Washington. They recorded significant drops, while Minnesota had its lowest number of fatal crashes since 2019, reportedly from significantly reducing speeding-related deaths. In those states, improvements were credited to increased enforcement, public education, infrastructure safety initiatives and vehicle technology, per the analysis.

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