Staff report
Indianapolis, Indiana – November 10, 2023
Indiana has witnessed the second-largest surge in car crash fatalities over the past decade, according to a new study conducted by injury attorney John Foy. The analysis, which examined the rate of car crash fatalities from 2012 to 2021, revealed a notable 38.38% increase in Indiana, marking it as the state with the second-highest rise in the United States.
Leading the statistics is Oregon, with a 62.48% surge in car crash fatalities, claiming the top spot in the study. Following Indiana, Illinois secured the third position with a 37.39% increase in car crash fatalities.
The study, utilizing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and FHWA, delved into the rates of car crash fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers for each state. Oregon, which had the 12th lowest rate in 2012, experienced the highest increase, reaching 19.77 fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers in 2021.
Indiana, the second on the list, had its highest rate in 2017 at 20.12 fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers, and by 2021, the rate remained high at 20.10. Illinois, securing the third position, saw its highest rate in 2021 at 15.95 fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers.
John Foy commented on the concerning trend, stating, “Over the past decade, people might imagine that driving has become safer, thanks to newer cars with better technology and higher safety standards; however, this data shows that isn’t the case.”
The complete ranking of the top 10 states with the highest increase in car crash fatalities is as follows:
- Oregon – 62.48% increase
- Indiana – 38.38% increase
- Illinois – 37.39% increase
- Washington – 36.27% increase
- Florida – 32.26% increase
- Georgia – 29.46% increase
- California – 28.96% increase
- Mississippi – 27.77% increase
- New Mexico – 27.26% increase
- Colorado – 25.82% increase
Foy emphasized the need for cautious driving, stating, “There are many reasons as to why car crashes happen, whether that be the fault of an individual or weather conditions, but this analysis demonstrates that it is still absolutely essential for people to drive carefully, no matter where they are.”
For more information on the study, please visit John Foy’s website.
Sources:
Methodology: The study collected vehicle fatality data from 2012 to 2021 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The data was grouped by state, and the total number of fatalities for each year was calculated. The number of licensed vehicles for the same period was collected from FHWA. By dividing the number of fatalities by the number of licensed drivers per 100,000, the study determined the relative fatality rate. The percentage change of this metric between 2012 and 2021 was then used to rank the states with the largest increase.
