Deadly distraction: Inattention drives up La. highway fatality rate

When it comes to highway fatalities, one factor is responsible more often in Louisiana than speeding, and more often than elderly drivers who shouldn’t be driving.
And you probably carry that factor in your pocket, if your attention is attracted by your cellphone.
That factor is distracted driving, a potentially lethal mistake that has pushed Louisiana’s highway fatality rate up.
That’s according to a new study by King Stahlman Bail Bonds based on 2019-2023 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
Louisiana’s fatality rate sits at 114.5 per 100,000 drivers, significantly less than the rates of the top three states: Mississippi (160.91 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers); New Mexico (134.31); and Wyoming (133.57).
But what makes Louisiana stand out is its 20.4% distracted-driving rate, one of the highest in the country.
Distracted driving, while lower in many states, shows pockets of deep concern, particularly in New Mexico, New Jersey and Hawaii. Smartphones remain a major factor despite years of public-awareness campaigns.
Also in Louisiana, speeding is involved in 22.7% of fatal crashes, and older drivers account for 17.6%.
Across the nation, speeding remains the most common violation associated with deadly crashes, a trend reflected in the study’s nationwide findings and in NHTSA’s broader annual reports. States like South Carolina and Hawaii exceed 40% speeding involvement, showing how speed continues to be a defining factor in fatal wrecks.
Drowsy driving consistently ranks lowest, remaining under 1% in most states, though mountainous and rural regions, such as Wyoming and Maine, trend slightly higher.
Meanwhile, older drivers (65 or older) make up over 20% of fatal crashes in several states, and young drivers remain a high-risk group nationwide, particularly in states with rural road networks and longer travel distances.
Young drivers (15–20) represent over 15% of fatal crashes in states like Montana and Delaware.
Fatal crashes remain one of America’s most persistent and heartbreaking public-safety issues, claiming tens of thousands of lives every year.
According to federal data, more than 40,000 people die on U.S. roads annually, a figure that has stubbornly refused to drop even as vehicles become safer and driver-assist technology becomes more sophisticated. Risky behaviors, like speeding, distraction and fatigue, continue to play an out-sized role in deadly wrecks, while demographic factors such as older and younger drivers also shape state-by-state patterns.
Among the top-ranked states:
•Mississippi tops the national list by a wide margin, recording nearly 161 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. For context, that’s more than four times the fatal-crash rate of Massachusetts, the safest state in the ranking. Older drivers contribute to 18.8% of Mississippi’s fatal crashes, signaling the role of age-related factors such as slower reaction times and diminished visibility.
Young drivers (15–20) account for 12.7%, while speeding contributes to just under 18 percent of deadly collisions. The state’s largely rural road network, longer emergency response times, and high share of long-distance travel likely contribute to the elevated risk.
•New Mexico comes in second, recording 134 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers, and it’s one of the most alarming case studies in the country. Speeding is involved in 35.6% of fatal crashes, but the real standout is distracted driving, which contributes to a staggering 38.5%, the highest among the top three.
Older drivers account for 16.2% of deadly crashes, and young drivers contribute nearly 14%. With a combination of long desert highways and rising smartphone-related distraction, New Mexico faces a deadly mix of speed and inattention behind the wheel.
•Wyoming rounds out the top three with 133.6 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers, closely trailing New Mexico. Speeding is an especially severe issue here, involved in 38% of fatal collisions. Older drivers contribute to 21.2%, and younger drivers represent 11.7%.
Distracted driving, while lower than New Mexico, still plays a role in around 10% of deadly crashes.
With vast stretches of open road, rapidly changing mountain-weather conditions and high travel speeds, Wyoming’s driving environment encourages fast driving — a risk factor that shows up clearly in the data.
•South Carolina ranks fourth with 125.2 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers and the highest speeding involvement in the entire top 10: an eye-opening 41% of fatal crashes. Arkansas follows at 122.2, where older drivers make up 20.6% of deadly crashes, and young drivers nearly 12%. Speeding accounts for 23% percent, while distraction remains low at just 3.4%.
•Oklahoma records 121.3 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers and has the highest share of fatal crashes involving older drivers in the top 10 at 22.3%. Speeding plays a role in 25% of deaths, and distracted driving is linked to 8.3%.
With a blend of rural highways and heavy interstate freight movement, the state faces a combination of speed-related and age-related risks.
•Kentucky reports 119.8 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers, and has the highest share of older drivers involved in deadly crashes among the top 10: a significant 23.5%. Distracted driving contributes to 16%, while speeding makes up 16% and young drivers account for 11.5%.