Fatal Roads: New Study Reveals the States Where Car Crashes Claim the Most Lives

Even as America celebrates small gains in road safety, new data reveals the nation’s highways are still among the deadliest in the developed world. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 40,901 people died in traffic crashes in 2023, a slight improvement from 42,721 in 2022 but still an alarming national toll. Another 2.44 million people were injured.

A new nationwide study from Pegasus Legal Capital set out to uncover which U.S. states see the most fatal accidents — and which behaviors drive the crisis. By examining drunk driving, speeding, and failure to wear a seat belt, the research provides a state-by-state snapshot of America’s most dangerous driving environments.

America’s Three Deadliest Driving Behaviors

Of all 2023 crash fatalities:

• 12,429 (30%) were caused by drunk driving.

• 11,775 (29%) were tied to speeding.

• 10,484 (26%) involved an unbelted driver or passenger.

While over 91% of front-seat adults buckle up, the small minority who don’t continue to make up a quarter of all road deaths.

“These numbers prove most fatal crashes are preventable,” said a spokesperson for Pegasus Legal Capital LLC. “Drunk driving, speeding, and skipping seat belts aren’t accidents — they’re choices.”

Drunk Driving: A Persistent Crisis

Drunk driving continues to be the single largest contributor to traffic deaths. Regional breakdowns show stark differences:

• South: 4.39 deaths per 100,000 residents

• West: 4.04 deaths per 100,000

• Midwest: 3.67 deaths per 100,000

• Northeast: 2.29 deaths per 100,000

In sheer numbers, Texas (1,699) and California (1,355) lead the nation, followed by Florida (839). But when population is factored in, smaller states like Wyoming, Montana, and South Carolina emerge as the riskiest places to share the road with an impaired driver.

Speeding: Risk on the Open Road

Speeding claims nearly as many lives as drunk driving, often fueled by congestion, lateness, and driver aggression. The West records the highest per-capita speeding deaths (7.13 per 100,000 residents), far ahead of other regions.

Once again, Texas (1,484 deaths) and California (1,303) lead in total speeding fatalities, while per-capita rates push rural states like South Carolina and Wyoming into the danger zone.

Seat Belts: The Simplest Life-Saver Still Ignored

Despite overwhelming evidence that seat belts reduce crash fatalities by nearly half, 8.8% of Americans still don’t buckle up. In 2023, this choice cost more than 10,000 lives.

The West holds the highest per-capita rate of unbelted deaths at 7.61 per 100,000, while Texas (1,110), Florida (811), and California (624) posted the highest raw totals. Smaller states again reveal elevated personal risk when measured per capita.

The States Where It’s Most Dangerous to Drive

By combining drunk driving, speeding, and seat-belt fatality data into a composite “risk score,” the analysis highlights the states where drivers face the greatest danger.

Wyoming, Montana, and South Carolina top the list, reflecting a deadly mix of rural highways, limited enforcement, and entrenched cultural attitudes toward risky driving behaviors. Other high-risk states include New Mexico, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

“Large states like Texas and California carry the biggest total numbers, but when it comes to individual risk, smaller rural states are far more perilous,” the Pegasus spokesperson explained.

The Weekend Factor

While weekdays produce more total deaths due to the sheer volume of traffic, weekends are deadlier per day. Saturday is the nation’s most dangerous day to drive, followed closely by Sunday. Late-night alcohol use, speeding, and fatigue all spike after the workweek ends, creating the perfect storm for fatal crashes. Distracted driving — particularly texting behind the wheel — adds another growing layer of risk.

Why These Findings Matter

The study makes one fact clear: America’s most deadly driving states can’t be identified by totals alone. Population size masks the realities of personal risk. Per-capita measures show that many rural and Southern states carry a far higher probability of death on the road.

Until enforcement, education, and infrastructure improve, tens of thousands of lives will continue to be lost each year.

About the Study

Researchers analyzed 2023 NHTSA data on drunk driving, speeding, and seat-belt nonuse. Each state was ranked by both raw totals and deaths per 100,000 residents. A combined score highlights the states where multiple high-risk behaviors overlap, creating the most hazardous conditions for drivers and passengers.