Speeding is the leading cause of fatal car crashes in the U.S., ValuePenguin.com Study Finds

Washington, D.C., New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Hawaii and South Carolina are the worst states for speeding fatalities.

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Jul 16, 2019, 12:00 ET

NEW YORK, July 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 and Washington, D.C. 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 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.

ValuePenguin's ranking of states with the highest rate of fatal accidents due to speeding was determined by taking the percentage of fatal car accidents in a given state, as categorized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and comparing that to the number attributed to driving too fast for conditions or in excess of posted limit.

To view the full report, visit: https://www.valuepenguin.com/2019/07/speeding-leading-cause-fatal-car-crashes-us

How Does Your State Fare For Speeding Fatalities?
Rank	State	% Fatal Accidents from Speeding
1	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

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SOURCE ValuePenguin.com