Comparing Driving Speed Vs. Risk in the U.S.

Today, 41 states permit speeds of 70 mph or higher on certain roadways, with eight states even setting maximum speeds of 80 mph or more. There are important correlations between driving speed and safety behind the wheel. According to a 2019 IIHS study, the increase in speed limits has resulted in the loss of nearly 37,000 lives over a span of 25 years. 

To determine the impact of fast driving on safety, the Assurance team conducted an in-depth analysis for a close comparison of the two variables. The focus was placed on two fundamental metrics: the Driving Speed Score and the Driving Risk Score.

The Driving Speed Score was derived from a survey conducted across 44 states, taking into account the respondents’ reported average MPH over the speed limit and the average number of times they have been pulled over while driving.

In contrast, the Driving Risk Score was calculated based on the number of fatal motor vehicle crashes per 1,000 vehicle registrations in each state, as well as the percentage of time residents in each state were found to be driving over 70 MPH.

We aim to shed light on the importance of reducing driving speeds and emphasize which states’ residents should be better prepared for encountering dangerously fast drivers – and therefore which states’ drivers may be at greater risk of auto insurance claims for collisions.

Exploring the Link Between Driving Speed and Safety Across the U.S.

To understand the relationship between driving speed and safety, we looked at factors like the number of fatal car crashes between 2017 to 2021 and the average amount of tickets residents received in each state. 

We also want to acknowledge that state-set maximum speed limits significantly influence this study. Naturally, drivers in states with lower maximum speed limits tend to have lower (and thus safer) driving speed scores.

Our findings revealed some intriguing patterns. For instance, Tennessee emerged as a state with fast drivers and where people take on more risk on the road. It received a driving speed score of 6.8 out of 10 and a driving risk score of 6.6 out of 10. Tennessee residents reported driving over 70 MPH 11% of the time. Furthermore, the state recorded approximately 5,304 fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021.

On the other hand, New Hampshire demonstrated a balance of fast driving while maintaining safety. It received a driving speed score of 8.2 out of 10 and a driving risk score of 2.6 out of 10. The state reported 526 fatal car crashes between 2017 and 2021, and residents have been pulled over an average of 2.48 times.

New Mexico stood out as the state with slower drivers while having a fairly high-risk score. It received a driving speed score of 2.4 out of 10 (sixth slowest in the country) and a driving risk score of 9.0 out of 10 (second highest). Residents drive over 70 MPH about 16.5% of the time, while reporting that they exceed the speed limit by about 4.91 MPH on average.

Conversely, Washington emerged as a state with slower, safer drivers. It received a driving speed score of 0.7 out of 10 (second lowest in the study) and a driving risk score of 1.8 out of 10 (third lowest). Washington had 2,679 fatal car crashes reported between 2017 and 2021.

Our study also unveiled regional trends across the U.S. Southern states, in general, proved more dangerous for driving, with only Maryland (3.0 out of 10) and Virginia (3.7 out of 10) scoring below 5.

All Northeastern states received a score below 5 in terms of driving risk. Western states, on the other hand, seemed to harbor more cautious drivers, all scoring less than 5 in driving speed, with Colorado being the only exception.

Midwestern states displayed a more balanced spread across both metrics compared to other regions. These findings underscore the complex interplay between driving speed and safety, highlighting the need for continued efforts to promote safe driving practices across the nation.

Analyzing Driving Speed and Risk: Best and Worst States

In our ongoing effort to rank the safest drivers by state, we’ve analyzed data to determine which states have the highest and lowest driving speed and risk scores.

New Hampshire tops the list with the highest driving speed score, coming in at 8.2 out of 10. The residents here drive an average of 7.5 MPH over the speed limit and have been pulled over an average of 2.5 times.

Delaware follows closely with the second-highest driving speed score of 7 out of 10. The data shows that residents here drive, on average, 7.4 MPH over the speed limit (a maximum 65 in the state) and have been pulled over an average of 2.1 times.

On the other end of the spectrum, Pennsylvania has the slowest-driving residents with a driving speed score of just 0.4 out of 10. Residents in Pennsylvania report driving an average of 4.9 MPH over the speed limit and have been pulled over an average of 1.3 times. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation actively involves the community through initiatives such as its Safety Citizens Program. This program encourages citizens to submit creative safety ideas on the road through various formats, including videos and poems. The department then selects a winning entry to feature on their social media platforms.

Washington is also home to some of the safest drivers with the second-lowest driving speed score at 0.7 out of 10. Residents here drive on average 5 MPH over the maximum speed limit of 75 and have been pulled over an average of 1.3 times.

We also examined driving risk to see how often drivers were driving recklessly in each state. 

Mississippi has the highest driving risk score of 9.4 out of 10. Between 2017 to 2021, Mississippi had 3,167 fatal crashes. That’s about 1.2 per 1,000 vehicle registrations in the state, which is significantly higher compared to the national average of 0.7 — a staggering 71% increase.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol launched the D.R.I.V.E. (Driving Requires Initiative Values and Education) campaign in 2021 to prevent distracted driving among teenagers, as 70 teens died in 2020 from vehicle crashes. 

New Mexico had the second-highest driving risk score of 9 out of 10. From 2017 to 2021, there were 1,853 fatal vehicle crashes or roughly 1 per 1,000 vehicle registrations in the state.

In contrast, Hawaii had the lowest driving risk score of 0.8 out of 10 with only 483 fatal crashes in the same five-year period. That’s about 0.5 crashes per 1,000 vehicle registrations.

Rhode Island had the second lowest driving risk score of 1.6 out of 10 with 313 fatal crashes from 2017 to 2021. This amounts to roughly 0.4 per 1,000 vehicle registrations.

These findings demonstrate the importance of safe driving habits and the role they play in reducing fatal accidents. As always, we encourage all drivers to adhere to speed limits and practice safe driving behaviors to ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road.

Closing Thoughts

In our pursuit to identify the states with the safest drivers, it’s evident that some states boast safer driving habits, while others exhibit a higher propensity for risk-taking on the road. While it’s impossible to control all aspects of driving, one thing you can manage is your protection through auto insurance. Assurance IQ provides a platform for you to compare auto insurance quotes and find a policy for your needs.

Methodology

To discover the safest drivers by state, as well as the relationship between driving speed and safety, we analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Drive Mode to determine the states with the most fatal car accidents over the past 5 years and which spend the most time driving over 70 MPH.

We then asked people from every state how fast they typically drive over the speed limit and how many driving-related tickets they’ve received. We combined each set of data points into one score metric for each. All score metrics were evaluated on a scale of 1 to 10. A score closer to 10 indicates a higher prevalence of speeding among residents of that state, suggesting that these states harbor some of the least safe drivers.