Speeding has resulted in more fatal car crashes than driving under the influence or distracted driving, according to a new ValuePenguin.com study, which also found that speeding accounted for 22 percent of all fatal accidents in the U.S.
Speeding has also consistently ranked as one of the top five factors for fatal crashes as far back as data is available, and is the leading cause of fatal crashes in 34 states including Pennsylvania. In 17 states and Washington, D.C., over 20 percent of fatal accidents were caused by speeding.
Key Findings:
- Where are drivers most likely to be in a speeding-induced fatal accident? In Washington, D.C., 40 percent of all auto accidents were attributed to speeding, nearly double the nationwide average. New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Hawaii and South Carolina also reported approximately 30 percent or more of their fatal crashes resulted from driving too fast for conditions or in excess of the posted limit.
- States in the southeast were less likely to see fatal accidents caused by speeding. In Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi, fatal accidents were least likely to be caused by speeding. In all aforementioned states, 10 percent or fewer fatal accidents were speeding induced. Strangely enough, in Mississippi, the state with the lowest rate of speeding-related fatal crashes, failing to yield to the right of way was the most prevalent cause of fatal crashes.
- A moving violation ticket will cost drivers more than just the fine: Over 125,000 people receive speeding tickets every day across the U.S. The millions of drivers who get a speeding ticket this year will see the impact of their reckless driving on auto insurance rates for an average of three years, and potentially longer if the driver already has a violation on their driving record. A single speeding ticket can increase auto insurance premiums by as much as 25 percent.
How Does Your State Fare For Speeding Fatalities?
Rank
State
% Fatal Accidents
from Speeding1
District of Columbia
39.5
2
New Hampshire
38
3
Rhode Island
31.1
4
Hawaii
29.9
5
South Carolina
28.8
6
Vermont
26.9
7
Pennsylvania
26.7
8
Illinois
26.1
9
New Mexico
24.2
10
Missouri
23.5
11
Wyoming
22.8
12
Montana
22.4
13
Colorado
22.4
14
Alaska
21.4
15
Connecticut
21
16
New York
20.9
17
Washington
20.2
18
West Virginia
20.1
19
Massachusetts
19.8
20
Arizona
19.6
21
California
19.3
22
Nevada
19.1
23
North Carolina
19.1
24
Wisconsin
18.9
25
Alabama
18.5
26
Maryland
18.4
27
Maine
18.3
28
Oregon
18.3
29
Virginia
18
30
Texas
17.7
31
Delaware
17.2
32
Utah
17.2
33
North Dakota
17.1
34
Minnesota
16.1
35
South Dakota
15.8
36
Louisiana
15.8
37
Arkansas
15.4
38
Oklahoma
14.5
39
Kansas
14.4
40
Michigan
14.2
41
Idaho
14.1
42
Indiana
14.1
43
Ohio
14.1
44
Iowa
13.6
45
New Jersey
12.8
46
Kentucky
11.3
47
Nebraska
10.4
48
Tennessee
10
49
Georgia
9.9
50
Florida
6.2
51
Mississippi
5.5
