56 Speeding Statistics on Fatalities, Drivers, Roads and Risk

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Speeding remains a major factor in U.S. traffic safety. In 2023, speeding-related crashes accounted for 28% of fatal crashes, while an estimated 332,598 people were injured in speeding-related crashes.

Key Speeding Statistics

The most broadly useful figures from the available U.S. data are:

  • In 2023, 11,775 people died in speeding-related crashes in the United States, representing 29% of all traffic fatalities.
  • In 2023, speeding-related crashes made up 28% of U.S. fatal crashes.
  • In 2023, an estimated 332,598 people were injured in speeding-related U.S. crashes, equal to 14% of all people injured.
  • From 2022 to 2023, speeding-related fatalities fell 3%, from 12,157 to 11,775, in the United States.
  • From 2014 to 2023, speeding-related fatalities increased 27%, from 9,283 to 11,775 in the United States.
  • In 2023, 19% of drivers involved in fatal U.S. traffic crashes were speeding.
  • In 2023, 21% of male drivers and 12% of female drivers involved in fatal U.S. crashes were speeding.
  • In 2023, 37% of male drivers aged 15–20 involved in fatal crashes were speeding in the United States.
  • In 2023, 38% of speeding drivers in fatal crashes had a BAC of at least 0.08 g/dL, compared with 16% of non-speeding drivers.
  • In 2023, 51% of speeding passenger-vehicle drivers in fatal crashes were unrestrained, compared with 21% of non-speeding drivers.
  • In 2023, 21% of drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at night, compared with 16% during daytime.
  • In 2023, 21% of drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding on weekends, compared with 17% on weekdays.
  • In 2023, 88% of speeding-related fatalities with known road-system information occurred on non-interstate roads.
  • In 2023, 36% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding in the United States.
  • In 2023, 41% of drivers in fatal crashes were speeding when ice or frost was reported on the road.
  • In 2023, Texas recorded 1,484 speeding-related traffic fatalities, the highest raw state count reported.
  • In a 2016 nationally representative online survey, 43% of surveyed U.S. drivers reported driving more than 15 mph over a freeway limit in the previous month.

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NHTSA defines a speeding-related crash as one in which a driver was charged with a speeding offense or an officer indicated that racing, driving too fast for conditions, or exceeding the posted limit contributed to the crash. That definition captures both documented charges and officer assessments, so it is not the same as a direct measurement of vehicle speed.

The 2023 national picture is broad:

  • Speeding-related crashes represented 28% of fatal crashes in the United States in 2023.
  • They represented 13% of injury crashes and 9% of property-damage-only crashes in 2023; these nonfatal crash figures are estimates from the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS).
  • An estimated 10% of all police-reported traffic crashes were speeding-related in 2023, although police-reported estimates can miss unreported crashes.

The fatality and injury totals show different year-to-year movement. NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) counted 11,775 speeding-related fatalities in 2023, while CRSS estimated 332,598 people injured.

Measure 2022 2023 Geography and source type
Speeding-related fatalities 12,157 11,775 United States; FARS counts
Speeding-related injuries 300,585 332,598 United States; CRSS estimates

Speeding-related fatalities fell 3% between 2022 and 2023, but the 2023 total was 27% higher than the 9,283 fatalities recorded in 2014. Annual totals were 9,592 in 2019, 11,428 in 2020 and 12,498 in 2021; the pandemic-period change should not be interpreted as a single-cause effect.

The injury estimates require particular care because CRSS uses a different sample design from the earlier NASS General Estimates System. The 2022-to-2023 injury comparison is therefore an estimate comparison, not a directly observed count series.

Source: Speeding: 2023 Data (Traffic Safety Facts).

Speeding Statistics by Driver Age and Sex

Age differences are especially visible among drivers involved in fatal crashes. In 2023, speeding was recorded for 37% of male drivers aged 15–20, declining across older male age groups.

Driver group in fatal crashes Speeding in 2023
Male, 15–20 37%
Male, 21–24 33%
Male, 25–34 26%
Male, 35–44 21%
Male, 45–54 15%
Male, 55–64 12%
Male, 65–74 11%
Male, 75 and older 8%

For female drivers, 18% of those aged 15–20 and 18% of those aged 21–24 involved in fatal crashes were speeding in 2023. Across all age groups, 21% of male drivers and 12% of female drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding.

These are not estimates of speeding prevalence among all licensed motorists. The denominator is limited to drivers involved in fatal crashes, a population selected by crash involvement.

Source: Speeding: 2023 Data (Traffic Safety Facts).

Speeding, Alcohol and Restraint-Use Statistics

Speeding and alcohol frequently appear together in fatal-crash data, but the figures describe drivers in fatal crashes rather than all drivers on the road. In 2023, 38% of speeding drivers in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 grams per deciliter, compared with 16% of non-speeding drivers.

At the higher threshold of 0.15 g/dL, 25% of speeding drivers had that BAC level, compared with 10% of non-speeding drivers. NHTSA estimates BAC when test results are unknown, so these measures can include imputed values.

Among speeding drivers aged 21 and older in fatal crashes, alcohol-impaired shares varied by age:

  • 41% of speeding drivers aged 21–24 were alcohol-impaired in 2023.
  • 44% of speeding drivers aged 25–34 were alcohol-impaired.
  • 43% of speeding drivers aged 35–44 were alcohol-impaired.
  • 41% of speeding drivers aged 45–54 were alcohol-impaired.
  • 35% of speeding drivers aged 55–64 were alcohol-impaired.
  • 22% of speeding drivers aged 65–74 were alcohol-impaired.
  • 14% of speeding drivers aged 75 and older were alcohol-impaired.

Restraint-use data show another pronounced difference. In 2023, 51% of speeding passenger-vehicle drivers in fatal crashes were unrestrained, compared with 21% of non-speeding drivers; the comparison covers drivers with known restraint use and includes passenger cars and light trucks.

Among drivers with known restraint use, 7% of light-truck drivers and 2% of large-truck drivers in fatal crashes were both speeding and unrestrained in 2023.

Source: Speeding: 2023 Data (Traffic Safety Facts).

Speeding Statistics by Time, Day and Road Setting

In 2023, speeding was recorded for 21% of drivers involved in fatal crashes during nighttime hours, compared with 16% during daytime hours. NHTSA defines daytime as 6 a.m. through 5:59 p.m. and nighttime as 6 p.m. through 5:59 a.m.

Weekend timing also showed a higher share: 21% of drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding on weekends, compared with 17% on weekdays. NHTSA defines the weekend as Friday at 6 p.m. through Monday at 5:59 a.m.; 23% were speeding during nighttime weekend hours.

Road classification matters when interpreting fatality totals. Of speeding-related fatalities with known functional-system information in 2023, 12%—1,384 fatalities—occurred on interstate highways, while 88%—10,275 fatalities—occurred on non-interstate roads.

Road setting among speeding-related fatalities with known system Share Fatalities
Interstate highways 12% 1,384
Non-interstate rural roads 36% 4,194
Non-interstate urban roads 52% 6,081

Functional-system and rural/urban classifications were known for 11,659 speeding-related fatalities. The road-setting percentages therefore apply to known cases, not necessarily every speeding-related fatality.

Source: Speeding: 2023 Data (Traffic Safety Facts).

Speeding Statistics by Vehicle Type and Road Conditions

Vehicle type produced different speeding shares among people involved in fatal crashes in 2023:

Vehicle or rider group Speeding share in fatal crashes, 2023
Motorcycle riders 36%
Passenger-car drivers 22%
Large-truck drivers 7%

The denominator in each comparison is the relevant rider or driver group involved in a fatal crash. NHTSA also warns that vehicle-type comparisons from 2020 onward are not comparable with 2019 and earlier classifications because the vehicle classification system changed.

Reported road-surface conditions were associated with different speeding shares among drivers in fatal crashes. Speeding was recorded for 18% on dry roads, 22% on wet roads, 34% when snow or slush was present, and 41% when ice or frost was reported.

These road-condition figures are not all-driving prevalence rates. They are based on reported crash conditions and are not adjusted for miles driven in each weather or surface category; small or uneven exposure groups may affect comparisons.

Source: Speeding: 2023 Data (Traffic Safety Facts).

Speeding Statistics by State and Reported Driver Behavior

State totals provide scale, but raw counts should not be interpreted as population- or vehicle-mile-adjusted rates. In 2023, Texas recorded the highest reported number among the supplied state figures, with 1,484 speeding-related traffic fatalities, followed by California with 1,303 and North Carolina with 632.

State Speeding-related traffic fatalities, 2023 Measure
Texas 1,484 Raw count
California 1,303 Raw count
North Carolina 632 Raw count
Hawaii — Highest state share: 58%
Florida — Lowest state share: 10%

Hawaii had the highest state share of speeding-related fatalities at 58%, while Florida had the lowest at 10%. State shares can be sensitive to small counts and reporting classifications, and they reflect reported speeding involvement rather than speed exposure.

Survey evidence adds a different perspective from crash records. In a 2016 nationally representative online survey referring to the previous month, 43% of drivers reported driving more than 15 mph over a freeway limit; this is self-reported behavior, not an observed-speed or crash measure.

The AAA Foundation survey conducted in 2014 found that almost 78% of drivers reported at least one aggressive-driving behavior during the previous year. Nearly 4% admitted to actions classified by that source as road-rage incidents; aggressive driving is broader than speeding, and these are self-reported figures rather than police-recorded incidence rates.

Sources: Speeding: 2023 Data (Traffic Safety Facts) and Countermeasures That Work: Speeding and Speed Management.

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