A new study from the Law Offices of James A. Welcome unveils a surprising and sobering trend in U.S. road safety: the majority of fatal crashes occur when drivers are simply “going straight.”
Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the firm’s analysts reviewed pre-crash actions in fatal accidents across all 50 states. While conventional wisdom might suggest that turns, merges, or sudden lane changes are the biggest contributors to deadly collisions, the reality is far more ordinary and far more dangerous.
Routine Roads, Fatal Outcomes
According to the study, “going straight” was the top pre-crash maneuver involved in deadly accidents in every single state — from rural highways to congested urban roads. The simplicity of the action often masks the underlying causes: driver inattention, speeding, fatigue, and impairment.
The five states with the highest rate of drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents were:
- Mississippi – 32.39 per 100k
- Wyoming – 28.52 per 100k
- New Mexico – 28.42 per 100k
- South Carolina – 28.10 per 100k
- Arkansas – 27.86 per 100k
In Mississippi alone, 3,387 drivers involved in fatal crashes were reported as simply “going straight” at the time. Even in low-fatality states like Massachusetts and New York, that pattern holds. New York saw 4,468 drivers killed under the same pre-crash circumstances, the highest total number in the country.
“It’s a wake-up call,” said a spokesperson at the Law Offices of James A. Welcome. “We assume danger comes with complexity on the road. But these findings show that distraction and overconfidence during the most basic driving maneuvers can be deadly.”
Curves and Left Turns Are Also Risk Zones
The study also tracked the second and third most common pre-crash actions in fatal incidents:
- “Negotiating a curve” — particularly in rural or mountainous regions — ranked second in many states, with high numbers in Arkansas (1,124), Kentucky (1,349), and Tennessee (1,794).
- “Turning left” — which involves navigating cross-traffic and blind spots — was another leading contributor to fatal crashes.
States with rural terrain tended to see more deaths during curves, suggesting speed misjudgment and limited visibility play key roles.
Public Policy Implications
The findings suggest that many states may need to shift public awareness campaigns and safety resources toward situations often seen as “low risk”, like long stretches of straight roads, especially in familiar neighborhoods. These are often the places where distraction (texting, fatigue, etc.) peaks.
Additionally, the report advocates for:
- More rumble strips and lane departure warnings on rural roads.
- Greater visibility enhancements on curves and left-turn intersections.
- Increased public education on the risks of mental “autopilot” while driving.
States with the Lowest Fatal Crash Rates Still Show the Same Pattern
Even among the five safest states, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and New Jersey, “going straight” was still the leading maneuver associated with fatal crashes. This consistency across all environments signals a national behavioral issue, not one limited to certain road types or regions.
“This isn’t about bad weather or tricky intersections — this is about everyday driving habits,” said the firm’s spokesperson. “We want to challenge the assumption that the routine is risk-free.”
About the Study
This study was based on 2024 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Crash rates were calculated per 100,000 residents to allow population-adjusted state-by-state comparisons. Each state’s most common driver action prior to a fatal crash was cataloged to reveal national trends.
