Auto Insurance
Reckless Driving Deaths Most Common in Montana, Colorado, West Virginia
Driving is inherently dangerous, but drivers who engage in reckless behavior make it much more so for others on the road.
According to the latest ValuePenguin study, reckless driving was a factor in 6.4% of motor vehicle deaths from 2018 through 2022.
We’ll look at where reckless driving deaths were more common and how you can utilize your auto insurance to help protect yourself.
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Key findings
- Reckless driving contributed to 12,654 fatalities from 2018 through 2022, or 6.4% of motor vehicle deaths. 2021 had the most reckless driving fatalities in this period — 3,075, or 7.1% of motor vehicle deaths that year.
- In 2022 (the latest available data at the time of research), 2,491 fatalities involved drivers who operated their vehicles in an erratic, reckless or negligent manner — accounting for 5.9% of motor vehicle deaths. There were 2,253 instances where reckless driving was a factor, either as a primary cause or in combination with other factors.
- Montana had the highest rate of reckless driving fatalities in the analyzed five years. The state had 22.3 deaths per billion miles traveled from 2018 through 2022 — over five times the national average of 4.0. Colorado (19.5) and West Virginia (15.3) followed.
- South Dakota and Washington had the fewest fatalities involving reckless driving from 2018 through 2022. Notably, South Dakota was the only state with zero recorded reckless driving deaths. Washington had just two — putting both states at a rate of 0.0 per billion miles traveled.
Reckless driving a factor in 6.4% of motor vehicle deaths
From 2018 through 2022 (the latest available data at the time of research), reckless driving — defined as erratic, reckless or negligent — was a factor in 12,654 fatalities. That’s 6.4% of all motor vehicle deaths in the analyzed period.
Across the years analyzed, 2021 had the most reckless driving fatalities at 3,075, or 7.1% of motor vehicle deaths that year.
Auto insurance expert and licensed insurance agent Rob Bhatt attributes those high numbers to the COVID-19 crisis.
"Some people developed bad driving habits during the pandemic," he says. "Uncrowded roads tempted them to speed, drive while impaired and/or drive distracted. Unfortunately, they kept doing these things after the roads filled up again. We saw more roadway fatalities in 2021 than in any other year since 2005."
In 2022, there were 2,491 reckless driving fatalities, accounting for 5.9% of all motor vehicle deaths. Overall, there were 2,253 fatal crashes with reckless driving recorded as a factor, resulting in those 2,491 deaths.
Reckless driving fatalities (by year)
Year | Reckless driving fatalities | Total driving fatalities | % of total motor vehicle deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2,235 | 36,835 | 6.1% |
| 2019 | 2,134 | 36,355 | 5.9% |
| 2020 | 2,719 | 39,007 | 7.0% |
| 2021 | 3,075 | 43,230 | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 2,491 | 42,514 | 5.9% |
| Total | 12,654 | 197,941 | 6.4% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST). Notes: This includes fatalities in which a driver was reported as operating a vehicle in an erratic, reckless or negligent manner.
Montana had highest rate of reckless driving fatalities
By state, Montana had the highest rate of reckless driving fatalities from 2018 through 2022 at 22.3 deaths per billion miles traveled. Comparatively, the national average was 4.0 — meaning Montana’s reckless driving fatality rate was more than five times higher.
Colorado (19.5) and West Virginia (15.3) followed.
"A state's crash rate has a general impact on its car insurance rates," Bhatt says. "However, the impact is spread out over such a large number of drivers that it usually doesn't impact an individual's rate as much as their driving record will."
Conversely, South Dakota and Washington had the lowest rates. With South Dakota at zero recorded reckless driving deaths and Washington at two from 2018 through 2022, both states had a rate of 0.0 fatalities per billion miles traveled.
In total, nine states had a reckless driving fatality rate below 1.0.
Full rankings
States with highest/lowest rates of reckless driving fatalities
Rank | State | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2018-22 | Fatalities per billion miles traveled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 57 | 68 | 67 | 51 | 59 | 302 | 22.3 |
| 2 | Colorado | 139 | 265 | 259 | 202 | 187 | 1052 | 19.5 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 46 | 39 | 55 | 40 | 54 | 234 | 15.3 |
| 4 | Alaska | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 23 | 76 | 13.9 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 102 | 241 | 437 | 226 | 367 | 1373 | 11.5 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 231 | 204 | 156 | 124 | 128 | 843 | 11.2 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 216 | 200 | 189 | 151 | 139 | 895 | 10.8 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 175 | 141 | 158 | 102 | 74 | 650 | 9.8 |
| 9 | Maine | 37 | 30 | 29 | 25 | 18 | 139 | 9.5 |
| 10 | Arkansas | 68 | 82 | 74 | 46 | 60 | 330 | 8.6 |
| 11 | Delaware | 10 | 7 | 2 | 41 | 24 | 84 | 8.5 |
| 12 | Connecticut | 54 | 43 | 47 | 26 | 46 | 216 | 7.3 |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data using the FIRST. Notes: This includes fatalities in which a driver was reported as operating a vehicle in an erratic, reckless or negligent manner. States differ in how they record related crashes.
Protecting yourself against reckless driving
You may be a safe driver, but you can’t control the driving habits of others on the road, so it’s crucial to be prepared.
"It's important to pay attention to your driving environment," Bhatt says. "This includes scanning the roadway in front of you and regularly checking your mirrors. This allows you to identify potential hazards before they arise and take steps to avoid them."
Additionally, Bhatt says uninsured motorist coverage is typically worth adding to your car insurance. "It covers you and your passengers for injuries caused by a driver without insurance," he says. "Even though insurance is required by law in almost every state, 13% of drivers don't have it."
Methodology
ValuePenguin researchers analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST).
Researchers analyzed fatal crash data from 2018 through 2022 (the latest available at the time of research) and compared fatalities in vehicle crashes. To identify incidents and fatalities connected to reckless driving, researchers analyzed crashes where drivers were recorded operating their vehicles in an erratic, reckless or negligent manner. (Note: States differ in how they record related crashes.)
Researchers utilized annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) data by state from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for 2022. Fatalities were calculated per billion miles traveled.