Key Highlights
- Hawaii leads the nation with the highest share of speeding-related fatal crashes, with 44.59% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involving speeding from 2020 to 2024, followed by Wyoming (40.22%) and Rhode Island (39.93%).
- Texas and California recorded the highest volume of speeding-related fatal crashes from 2020 to 2024, averaging 1,345.2 and 1,229.6 annually, while Vermont (21.4) and North Dakota (22.6) recorded the fewest.
- Florida had the lowest share of speeding-related fatal crashes at just 9.96% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes, nearly 4.5 times lower than Hawaii’s rate of 44.59%, followed by Kentucky (16.26%) and Tennessee (16.80%).
Speeding remains one of the deadliest driving behaviors on U.S. roads, contributing to thousands of fatal crashes each year. From 2020 to 2024, more than 53,000 fatal motor vehicle crashes across the United States involved speeding as a contributing factor. The proportion of speeding-related fatal crashes, however, varies dramatically by state, revealing deep geographic disparities in speed enforcement, road design and driver behavior.
The study conducted by Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers analyzed five years (2020–2024) of FARS / CDAN data on speeding-related fatal motor vehicle crashes across all 50 U.S. states. For each state, the average annual number of speeding-related fatal crashes was calculated alongside the average annual total fatal motor vehicle crashes to determine the percentage of all fatal crashes attributable to speeding. States were ranked from highest to lowest percentage to reveal where speeding plays the largest role in fatal crash outcomes.
Top 10 U.S. States Where Speeding Causes the Most Fatal Crashes
States With the Highest Percentage of Speeding-Related Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes (2020–2024 Average)
| State | Population (2024) | Avg. Annual Speeding Fatal Crashes (2020–2024) | % Speeding-Related | Rank |
| Hawaii | 1,446,146 | 42 | 44.59% | 1 |
| Wyoming | 587,618 | 44.8 | 40.22% | 2 |
| Rhode Island | 1,112,308 | 23.4 | 39.93% | 3 |
| South Carolina | 5,478,831 | 397.6 | 39.61% | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,078,751 | 433.4 | 39.41% | 5 |
| Alaska | 740,133 | 23.4 | 37.74% | 6 |
| Connecticut | 3,675,069 | 110.6 | 37.42% | 7 |
| Montana | 1,137,233 | 73.2 | 37.08% | 8 |
| Missouri | 6,245,466 | 338.6 | 36.85% | 9 |
| New Mexico | 2,130,256 | 142.8 | 35.77% | 10 |
Hawaii leads the nation with 44.59% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involving speeding, followed by Wyoming at 40.22%. Rhode Island, South Carolina and Pennsylvania round out the top five, while Alaska, Connecticut, Montana, Missouri and New Mexico complete the top 10.
Looking at the study, Chrissy Grigoropoulos, Founder of Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, Commented:
“Speeding remains a leading cause of fatal crashes across the U.S., with significant differences between states. The findings highlight the urgent need for stronger enforcement, safer road designs, speed-calming measures, and public awareness campaigns to reduce deaths and make American roads safer.”
Top 10 U.S. States Where Speeding Causes the Fewest Fatal Crashes
States With the Lowest Percentage of Speeding-Related Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes (2020–2024 Average)
| State | Population (2024) | Avg. Annual Speeding Fatal Crashes (2020–2024) | % Speeding-Related | Rank |
| Florida | 23,372,215 | 318 | 9.96% | 1 |
| Kentucky | 4,588,372 | 116 | 16.26% | 2 |
| Tennessee | 7,227,750 | 197.4 | 16.80% | 3 |
| Mississippi | 2,943,045 | 118.8 | 17.62% | 4 |
| Nebraska | 2,005,465 | 41 | 19.49% | 5 |
| Iowa | 3,241,488 | 65.8 | 20.59% | 6 |
| Georgia | 11,180,878 | 335 | 21.83% | 7 |
| Kansas | 2,970,606 | 78.8 | 21.97% | 8 |
| Ohio | 11,883,304 | 257 | 22.15% | 9 |
| Arkansas | 3,088,354 | 129.4 | 22.36% | 10 |
Florida recorded the nation’s lowest proportion of speeding-related fatal crashes at just 9.96% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes. Kentucky and Tennessee followed with rates of 16.26% and 16.80%, respectively. Hawaii, by contrast, recorded a rate of 44.59%, nearly 4.5 times higher, highlighting stark state-by-state differences in how much speeding contributes to fatal crash outcomes.
Methodology
This study analyzed 2020–2024 FARS / CDAN (Fatality Analysis Reporting System / Crash Data Analysis Network) data on speeding-related fatal motor vehicle crashes across all 50 U.S. states. The average annual number of speeding-related fatal crashes for each state was calculated over the five-year period and compared to the average annual total fatal motor vehicle crashes to derive the percentage of crashes attributable to speeding. States were ranked from highest to lowest percentage to identify where speeding is the greatest contributor to fatal crash outcomes.
Data Sources
FARS / CDAN Query (All 50 States): https://cdan.dot.gov/query
Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15M95FXlqAW6wpUyaBIMUUDpR3C05X4W1FRTiuvhJ1DQ/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Study By: https://grigorlaw.com
About Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers
Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers is a premier New York “all injury” law firm representing clients in personal injury, car accidents, workers’ compensation, and no-fault claims.
