FL Among Safest States for Passengers Amid Nationwide Traffic Fatality Decline

• Hawaii is the safest state to be a passenger, with the lowest percentage of occupants killed in fatal crashes, at 20.13%.
• Florida is the 3rd safest state to be a passenger, where 23.71% of occupants involved in fatal crashes were killed.
• It is encouraging to see states leading when it comes to passenger safety, but the data also highlights the need for continued efforts to reduce fatalities and injuries nationwide.

A new study has revealed the safest states for passengers. 

The research, conducted by personal injury lawyer, North Carolina, DeMayo Law Office, examined data from the National Highway Safety Administration using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST).

Using this tool, data was collected from the 2018-2022 time period. This data illustrates the number of occupants involved in fatal traffic collisions and the number of occupants involved in fatal traffic collisions who were killed or injured.  

Excluding drivers, the percentage of passengers who were injured or killed over the 2018–2022 time frame was discovered, and the states were ranked, with the state holding the lowest percentage of passenger deaths at the top. 

Hawaii is the safest state to be a passenger, with the lowest percentage of occupants killed in fatal crashes, at 20.13%. The total number of occupants (or passengers) involved in fatal crashes between 2018-2022 for this state is 308. Of these, 38.64% of occupants were injured. The state recorded 40 who had incapacitating injuries and 53 who sustained non-incapacitating injuries.

Nevada is the second-safest state to be a passenger, where 23.59% of occupants involved in fatal crashes were killed. In Nevada, of the total 1,064 occupants involved in fatal crashes for 2018-2022, 42.39% were injured. The state recorded 160 occupants with incapacitating injuries, and 141 occupants with non-incapacitating injuries. 

In third place is Florida, with 23.71% of occupants involved in fatal crashes killed over 2018-2022. In Florida, there were 10,581 occupants involved in fatal crashes during this time period. Of these, 45.03% were injured. 1,692 occupants were recorded with incapacitating injuries, and 1,770 with non-incapacitating injuries. 

In fourth place is New Jersey, where 23.79% of occupants involved in fatal collisions were killed. There were a total of 1,887 occupants involved in fatal collisions in this state during 2018-2022. 45.05% of occupants were injured, with 276 receiving incapacitating injuries. 

Ranking fifth is Louisiana, with 24.29% of occupants involved in fatal crashes killed. 49.44% of occupants involved in fatal crashes in this state for the 2018-2022 period were injured. Of these, 239 had an incapacitating injury, and 519 had a non-incapacitating injury. 

Coming in sixth place is Alaska, where 24.35% of occupants involved in fatal collisions were killed between 2018-2022. Of the 308 total occupants involved in fatal crashes during these years, 51.62% were injured, and 79 occupants received incapacitating injuries. 

At number seven is New York, with 24.50% of occupants involved in fatal crashes between 2018 and 2022 killed. This state recorded a total of 2,943 occupants involved in fatal crashes for this time. Of these, 39.35% were injured, with 448 occupants recorded with incapacitating injuries. 

Following closely in eighth place is Utah, with 24.56% of occupants involved in fatal crashes killed. 50.00% of occupants involved in fatal crashes in this state during 2018-2022 were injured. 200 occupants had incapacitating injuries, and 221 had non-incapacitating injuries. 

In joint-ninth place is Maryland and California, where 24.70% of occupants involved in fatal crashes between 2018-2022 were killed. In Maryland, 45.30% of occupants involved in fatal crashes were injured, 272 of these occupants had incapacitating injuries and 257 had non-incapacitating injuries. In California, 41.87% of occupants involved in fatal crashes were injured, with 2,253 receiving incapacitating injuries and 1,745 receiving non-incapacitating injuries. 

Finally, rounding off the top ten is Connecticut, with 25.00% of occupants involved in fatal crashes in 2018-2022 killed. 49.75% of occupants were injured, with 137 receiving incapacitating injuries and 162 receiving non-incapacitating injuries. 

Conversely, New Hampshire is the most dangerous state for passengers. In this state, 35.48% of occupants involved in fatal crashes were killed, and 39.43% were injured. 

The top 10 safest states to be a passenger 

Commenting on the study, Michael DeMayo, a spokesperson forDeMayo Law Office said, 

“These findings shed light on the very serious issue of passenger safety across different states, emphasizing the importance of road safety measures. It is encouraging to see states like Hawaii and Nevada leading when it comes to passenger safety, but the data also highlights the need for continued efforts to reduce fatalities and injuries nationwide.

“This analysis serves as an important starting point for discussions on passenger safety. When we consider that only one in three households in America have access to a single car* and one in ten don’t have access to a car at all, there is a high likelihood that passengers will be either family members or friends.”

*The US Census Bureau reported in their Physical Housing Characteristics for Occupied Housing Units survey 2023 that 33.3% of U.S. households only had access to one car.

Sources: 

United States Department of Transportation 

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) FIRST tool (Fatality and Injury Reporting System). 

Methodology: 

The United States Department of Transportation provides FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) data through the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) FIRST tool (Fatality and Injury Reporting System) <https://cdan.dot.gov/query>. Using this tool, data was collected from the most recent five-year period available (2018-2022). This data illustrates the number of passengers involved in fatal collisions and the percentage who were injured or killed.

Excluding drivers, the percentage of occupants (passengers) who were injured or killed over the studied period has been given, and the states have been ranked, with the state holding the lowest percentage of passenger deaths at the top, descending.