Trenton, NJ – New Jersey ranked third in the nation for the share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving behaviors, according to a new analysis by LendingTree using federal crash data.
The study found that 45.1% of the state’s 638 fatal crashes in 2024 involved at least one unsafe driving factor, including aggressive driving, careless driving, inattentive operation, improper driving, or driving without due care. Only Arkansas, at 47.2%, and Louisiana, at 46.2%, recorded higher percentages.
Men and younger drivers account for most fatal crashes
Nationwide, men were involved in 78.6% of fatal crashes tied to aggressive or careless driving, compared with 20% involving female drivers, according to the analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data.
The report also found that millennials accounted for the largest share of these crashes at 31.5%, followed by Gen Z drivers at 27.7%. Combined, the two generations were involved in 59.2% of fatal crashes associated with unsafe driving behaviors.
“Millennial and Gen Z drivers often spend more time commuting, driving for work or traveling during rush hour and late-night hours than older generations,” Lindsay Bishop, LendingTree’s car insurance expert, said in the report. “That can increase their risk of being involved in a fatal crash. Regardless of age or gender, drivers who speed or disregard traffic laws more frequently are more likely to be involved in a fatal collision.”
Pickup trucks among vehicles most often involved
The Chevrolet Silverado was the vehicle most frequently involved in fatal crashes linked to aggressive or careless driving, accounting for 3.2% of the nationwide total. The Ford F-150 ranked second at 3.1%, followed by the Toyota Camry at 2%.
LendingTree said its findings are based on 2024 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System and include crashes involving one or more unsafe driving behaviors identified by investigators.
While the study highlights demographic and vehicle trends, researchers noted that driving behavior—not age, gender, or vehicle model—is the primary factor influencing crash risk.
