Analysis of federal crash data also shows that the rate of road fatalities tied to careless and reckless driving is lowest in the states of Virginia and New York.
by Staff
December 16, 2016
Photo of Whitefish, Mont., by Royalbroil via Wikimedia Commons.
1 min to read
Photo of Whitefish, Mont., by Royalbroil via Wikimedia Commons.
An analysis of U.S. fatal crash data from 2005-2015 reveals that Montana had the highest rate of road deaths caused by careless and reckless driving during that period, according to the Auto Insurance Center.
The center’s analysis was based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Researchers blamed Montana’s higher fatality rate primarily on a lack of seat belt use, speeding, and alcohol impairment.
Ad Loading...
During the 10-year period, Montana had 108 fatalities attributed to careless and reckless driving per 100,000 residents, according to the Auto Insurance Center’s research based on FARS data. Arkansas was the next state with the highest rate of road deaths tied to such dangerous driving behavior (86 fatalities per 100,000 residents).
Which states had the lowest rate of deaths caused by careless and reckless driving?
Virginia (1.42 fatalities per 100,000 residents), New York (2.01), Indiana (2.14), and California (2.84) fared the best.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.