Which US Counties Had the Highest Traffic Deaths in 2018?
This article is sponsored by Wendt Law.
Personal injury law firm Wendt Law has just released an interactive map that details motor vehicle fatalities in America in 2018 by county, as reported by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.
According to this data, Los Angeles County had the most traffic fatalities in 2018 by far. The nation’s most populous county was home to 670 motor vehicle deaths last year. Second was Maricopa County, Arizona, followed by Harris County, Texas, in third.
Why by county?
By looking at traffic fatalities by county rather than state, the Kansas City-based firm hopes to inspire change at a more relative local level. Additionally, looking at fatality statistics by county allows us to gain insights into counties with high numbers of fatalities that would otherwise be unremarkable in state data.
Arizona’s Maricopa County, for example, had the second-most traffic deaths in 2018. However, if this data were categorized by state, Arizona would be ranked somewhere in 10th place — burying the concerning number of traffic deaths in the county which contains the Phoenix metropolitan area.
What other counties had high traffic fatalities?
The three states who generally have the most traffic fatalities every year – California, Florida, Texas – are just as prevalent in the top 50 ranked counties as well. But other counties in other states make their mark on this ranking too. Maricopa County aside, other notable counties include:
- Cook County, Illinois – the second-most populous county in the country, ranked eighth
- Clark County, Nevada – home to Las Vegas, ranked 11th
- Wayne County, Michigan – ranked 18th
- Shelby County, Tennessee – the state’s largest county, ranked 19th
The map also noted any changes in motor vehicle fatalities for each county from 2017 to 2018. Within the top 50, Harris County, Texas, noted the largest decrease, while San Diego County, California, had the largest increase.
These maps are invaluable tools in determining the best course of action to improve traffic safety across America. We hope that these data can serve as a significant jumping off point for change.
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