One in three fatal car crashes across the country in 2017 involved a driver traveling above the legal speed limit. That's according top a new study issued by Driving-Tests.org.
The organization used five years worth of traffic data to determine the number of fatal traffic accidents that involved speeding and other findings, including the deadliest times of day, week and months for speeding drivers. The study focused many of its finding on 2017, the year of the most recent data.
The study also ranked the best and worst states for fatal speed-related crashes, with Wyoming ranking No. 3 in the worst states list and Montana following closely behind at No. 5.
South Carolina topped the worst states list at No. 1, while New Mexico came in at No. 2.
The study also looked at gender and age factors and made these findings:
- Drivers between the ages of 15 and 19: Teenage boys involved in fatal accidents in this age group were typically traveling at an average of more than 61 mph, compared to women traveling at less than 56 mph. Teen boys were also four times as likely to die in speeding-related collisions than teen girls.
- Drivers between the ages of 20 and 29: In 2017, the highest average speed associated with fatal accidents -- nearly 62 mph -- was attributed to male drivers between the ages of 20 and 29. At this age, more than 7.5 men between 20- and 29-years-old out of every 100,000 died in motor vehicle accidents with a speeding driver.
- Drivers between the ages of 30 and 39: The speed at which deadly accidents happen began to decrease at these ages for men, averaging less than 58 mph.
- Drivers between the ages of 40 and 49: The number of fatal collisions fell to the lowest per capita rate for both men and women between these ages. According to the data, the average driver is getting safer at this stage for the first time in their life.
- Drivers between the ages of 50 and 59: For the first time, both men and women involved in fatal accidents averaged speeds under 50 mph at the time of their crashes.
- Drivers between the ages of 60 and 69: Men were still more than six times more likely to be involved in speed-related fatalities between the ages of 60 and 69.
- Drivers 70 and over: For women, there was no change in the likelihood of being involved in a crash during their 70’s when compared to women in their 60s.
