Speeding is taking an especially deadly toll across the Carolinas. A new nationwide study ranks North Carolina third for speeding-related deaths, while neighboring South Carolina ranks seventh.
The study analyzed 2024 traffic data from all 50 states, including fatalities, crashes, seasonal trends and population-adjusted rates.
North Carolina recorded 676 speeding-related deaths, accounting for nearly 6% of the national total.
Only Texas, with 1,496 deaths, and California, with 1,139, recorded more.
Meanwhile, South Carolina reported 392 speeding-related deaths, ranking seventh nationwide.
Combined, the Carolinas recorded 1,068 speeding-related deaths in 2024. That represents roughly 9.5% of all 11,288 deaths nationwide.
States With the Most Speeding-Related Deaths
- Texas — 1,496
- California — 1,139
- North Carolina — 676
- Arizona — 446
- Pennsylvania — 437
- Illinois — 423
- South Carolina — 392
- New York — 364
- Florida — 360
- Georgia — 339
Together, the top 10 states accounted for nearly 54% of America’s speeding-related deaths.
The study also found fatalities increase during warmer months. Deaths begin rising in May and remain elevated through August and September.
Nationwide, speeding also contributed to more than 213,000 injury crashes and nearly 369,000 property-damage crashes.
