A new nationwide analysis by the Law Offices of James A. Welcome reveals a startling trend behind fatal crashes across the United States: the most dangerous maneuver on American roads may be the one drivers assume is the safest, simply going straight.
Using the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the study identified the most common driver actions before fatal collisions and ranked every state by its rate of fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. The findings shed light on surprising behavioral patterns and offer new directions for traffic safety efforts.
“Going Straight” Tops the Danger List in Every State
Contrary to popular belief, complex actions like turning, passing, or merging aren’t the most frequent precursors to fatal accidents. Instead, “going straight” was the top pre-crash action reported in every single state, from Mississippi to Massachusetts.
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In Mississippi, which ranked #1 for fatal crash rates, 3,387 drivers were killed while going straight, accounting for the vast majority of its 32.39 drivers per 100,000 residents’ fatality rate.
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Wyoming (2nd in fatalities per capita) saw 478 drivers perish while going straight, while New Mexico (3rd) recorded 2,014 such deaths.
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Even in Massachusetts, which had the lowest fatal crash rate in the country (7.38 per 100,000), 1,850 drivers were involved in fatal crashes while traveling in a straight line.
According to road safety advocates, the data suggests that driver distraction, speeding, and impaired driving are likely behind many of these deaths, not the maneuver itself. The routine nature of “just going straight” may lead to overconfidence and inattention.
“It’s alarming how often deadly crashes happen when drivers aren’t even turning or switching lanes,” said a spokesperson at the Law Offices of James A. Welcome. “Drivers let their guard down on familiar roads. Unfortunately, that’s when small mistakes turn fatal.”
Top 10 States by Fatal Crash Rates (Per 100,000 Residents)
| Rank | State | Rate | Top Pre-Crash Action | Drivers Involved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 32.39 | Going straight | 3,387 |
| 2 | Wyoming | 28.52 | Going straight | 478 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 28.42 | Going straight | 2,014 |
| 4 | South Carolina | 28.10 | Going straight | 5,116 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 27.86 | Going straight | 2,477 |
| 6 | Alabama | 26.35 | Going straight | 4,254 |
| 7 | Louisiana | 26.07 | Going straight | 3,705 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 25.43 | Going straight | 5,455 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 24.28 | Going straight | 3,191 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 24.20 | Going straight | 3,484 |
States with the Lowest Fatal Crash Rates
While Southern and rural states dominate the top of the fatality rankings, urbanized and transit-rich states like Massachusetts (7.38), New York (7.53), and Rhode Island (7.61) ranked lowest, likely due to infrastructure, driver behavior, and access to public transportation.
Still, “going straight” remained the top pre-crash maneuver even in these lower-risk states. In fact, New York recorded over 4,400 fatal crashes involving drivers going straight, the highest raw total in the nation, underscoring how population size can mask serious risks.
“Negotiating a Curve” and “Turning Left” are Also Common
The second most common fatal pre-crash maneuvers across the country included “negotiating a curve,” especially in rural and mountainous regions, and “turning left”, which often involves crossing traffic.
“Rural states have additional challenges,” said a spokesperson from the firm. “High speeds, limited lighting, undivided highways, and delayed EMS response times all contribute to higher death rates, particularly on curves where control is more difficult.”
Conclusion: Routine Doesn’t Mean Risk-Free
This new data reminds drivers that even familiar, straight stretches of road require vigilance. Safety campaigns often focus on complex or aggressive driving behaviors, but this report shows that overconfidence, distraction, and speed during simple maneuvers may be the biggest silent killers on U.S. roads.
