New cars are safer than ever, but too many people are still unnecessarily killed in speed-related accidents. a recent study from forbes advisor Speeding was found to account for 29% of fatal crashes, which amounts to an average of 30 deaths per day in the US. The publication also ranked the states with the fastest rate of deaths, and some places may surprise you.
First, let’s tackle the coolest states. With 9% of all fatal speeding crashes, Florida is the nation’s best state in this study. Tennessee is second with 15%, and Nebraska is third with 17%. Mississippi and Iowa slipped in the survey with less than 20% of all crashes due to speed.
The worst state for speeding deaths was South Carolina, with 46% of speeding deaths. Colorado was second with 46% (fewer overall deaths than SC), and Hawaii was third with 44%. Unsurprisingly, states with higher speed limits had a higher percentage of speed-related deaths. With its 85 mph limit on some highways, Texas accounted for 37% of deaths due to speeding, and Montana’s 80-mph state maximum accounted for 39%. Still, there have been a lot of speeding deaths in Hawaii, and it has a speed limit of 60 mph.
Speed-related deaths have decreased slightly since 2011, but some states have improved more than others. Maine saw speeding-related crashes drop 23% since 2010, and West Virginia saw a 20% drop. forbes Some of that has to be credited to more proactive policing. Maine has conducted speed limit studies on busy sections of its highway system, raising and lowering the limit over the past decade.
At the same time, some states are lagging behind. South Carolina and Colorado have both gotten worse. South Carolina’s speed-related deaths climbed 11% and Colorado’s increased by 10%.
Drivers know that speeding is dangerous – 82% said so, even as 90% admitted to doing it.
For a full list of the best and worst states for speeding deaths, see the full report forbes advisor,