A brand new examine from the Legislation Places of work of James A. Welcome highlights a regarding and uneven development in U.S. roadway security: deadly hit-and-run crashes are rising disproportionately in sure states, notably these with massive metropolitan areas and dense site visitors networks.
Utilizing Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) knowledge from 2019 to 2023, the evaluation reviewed greater than 186,000 deadly crashes nationwide. Of those, 13,001 concerned a driver who fled the scene, that means 7% of all deadly U.S. crashes now contain hit-and-runs.
However the nationwide determine conceals steep state-by-state variations tied to inhabitants density, congestion, and concrete mobility patterns.
California Leads the Nation — And by a Huge Margin
California recorded 2,178 deadly hit-and-run crashes, giving it the best price within the nation at 11.3% — a full 4.3 proportion factors above the nationwide common.
Nevada follows at 9.8%, and New Jersey takes third at 9.7%, marking a transparent focus of elevated hit-and-run percentages in high-density coastal and metro areas.
High 10 Highest Hit-and-Run Charges (2019–2023)
These states recorded the biggest share of deadly crashes involving hit-and-run drivers:
- California — 11.3%
- Nevada — 9.8%
- New Jersey — 9.7%
- Hawaii — 9.2%
- New York — 9%
- Illinois — 9%
- Connecticut — 9%
- New Mexico — 9%
- Maryland — 8.7%
- Texas — 8.3%
- Arizona — 8.2%
- Florida — 7.9%
- Tennessee — 7.6%
These states share comparable traits: bigger cities, higher pedestrian volumes, excessive automobile density, and extra complicated commuter networks — all of which enhance each crash publicity and the chance of drivers fleeing scenes.
A 4-Approach Tie Highlights Broader City Tendencies
New York, Illinois, Connecticut, and New Mexico every recorded a 9% hit-and-run price, suggesting that this isn’t restricted to 1 area. In New York and Illinois alone, almost 1,000 hit-and-run fatalities occurred throughout the five-year interval, closely concentrated of their metro hubs.
States With the Lowest Hit-and-Run Charges
On the different finish of the spectrum, sparsely populated and rural states report dramatically decrease hit-and-run fatality charges:
- Maine — 0.6%
- New Hampshire — 1.1%
- Iowa — 1.4%
- Wyoming — 1.4%
- Idaho — 1.4%
In Maine, for instance, solely 4 out of 727 deadly crashes concerned a driver fleeing the scene — 6.4 proportion factors beneath the nationwide common.
These states share low congestion, fewer multi-lane roads, shorter commute distances, and a smaller proportion of pedestrian-vehicle interactions.
Why Urbanization Performs a Main Position
The dataset suggests a powerful correlation between hit-and-run charges and concrete environments:
- Greater site visitors volumes → extra extreme crash environments
- Dense populations → extra pedestrian publicity
- Congested areas → extra alternatives for drivers to flee
- Larger anonymity → much less rapid identification after crashes
- Extra complicated street programs → extra escape routes
In rural states, crashes are extra seen, happen in open environments, and infrequently contain fewer autos — making hit-and-runs each much less probably and harder to hide.
Hit-and-Run Patterns Mirror Broader Mobility Gaps
For analysts monitoring transportation and digital mobility traits, this examine reinforces a bigger narrative:
- City progress is outpacing enforcement and detection programs
- Excessive-density states see radically totally different crash conduct than rural ones
- Pedestrian-heavy cities expertise among the highest leave-the-scene charges
- Digital camera and ALPR protection gaps nonetheless depart blind spots in massive metro areas
With huge disparities between states like California (11.3%) and Maine (0.6%), the information underscores the challenges of managing street security in quickly rising and more and more complicated mobility landscapes.
The Takeaway
Whereas hit-and-run crashes make up 7% of all U.S. deadly crashes, the state-by-state disparity is stark — and widening. The findings present that hit-and-run dangers aren’t evenly distributed; they’re closely formed by geography, inhabitants density, and concrete transportation programs.
As cities proceed to broaden and site visitors volumes develop, states with massive city footprints might expertise rising hit-and-run charges except infrastructure, enforcement know-how, and reporting instruments evolve alongside them.
