Fresno County ranks among the deadliest counties in the nation for fatal crashes related to speeding, according to a new study.
Las Vegas-based Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers identified the U.S. counties with the highest rates of speeding-related fatalities.
Researchers focused on traffic deaths in the 100 most populous counties in the nation, analyzing speeding-related crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Crash Report Sampling System and population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Ramzy Ladah, founder of Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, said the figures should serve as a “wake-up call” for drivers and lawmakers.
“The data highlights the serious impact of speeding across America and underscores the scale of the problem in Fresno,” Ladah said in a news release. “The figures should prompt stronger speed enforcement.”
Here’s what to know:
How common are speeding-related deaths in Fresno County?
When it comes to deaths tied to speeding-related crashes, Fresno was the eighth deadliest county in the United States,
According to the study, Fresno County had a total of 223 speeding-related fatalities from 2020 through 2024, averaging 44.6 deaths annually.
The county had a population of 1,019,877 residents in 2026,
Fresno County saw 4.37 speeding-related deaths per 100,000 residents, a death rate nearly nine times higher than that of the New York City borough of Manhattan.
Manhattan had the lowest speeding fatality rate among the 100 most populous U.S. counties, with just 0.50 speeding-related fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
In contrast, Jackson County, Missouri, had the highest speeding-related crash rate, with 7.33 deadly speeding-related crashes per 100,000 residents.
What are the deadliest US counties for speeding crashes?
A total of four California counties ranked among the U.S. counties with the highest rates of speeding-related crashes that resulted in death, according to: Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers.
The law firm said these were the 10 deadliest counties in terms of speeding-related crashes:
Jackson County, Missouri: 7.33 fatal speeding-related crashes per 100,000 peopleSan Bernardino County: 5.54Kern County: 5.16Dallas County, Texas: 5.05Pima County, Arizona: 4.86Shelby County, Tennessee: 4.76San Joaquin County: 4.71Fresno County: 4.37Tulsa County, Oklahoma: 4.35Maricopa County, Arizona: 4.28How many people died in speeding crashes in California?
The study follows a high volume of speed-related incidents across California
In 2025, California Highway Patrol officers issued more than 491,000 citations for speeding violations, according to an April 27 news release.
Preliminary data from that year showed that unsafe speeds resulted in more than 110,000 crashes, causing more than 400 deaths and 68,000 injuries statewide.
“Speeding continues to be one of the leading causes of serious and fatal crashes on California’s roadways,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in the release. “When drivers choose to exceed safe speeds, they reduce their ability to react and increase the risk for everyone on the road.”
Joe Martinez, a local advocate for safe streets, experienced a profound personal tragedy more than a decade ago when his son was killed by a speeding driver in the city of Fresno.
Martinez called the current volume of avoidable traffic fatalities in the region deeply concerning.
“These incidents serve as a clear indicator that driver behavior must evolve,” Martinez told The Fresno Bee via phone. “The frequency of lethal collisions has surged since the pandemic, impacting not only local thoroughfares but our freeway systems as well.”
To address the crisis, Martinez said law enforcement agencies should enhance their operational effectiveness.
“Modern technological advancements offer expanding opportunities for oversight,” he said. “Current legislative proposals emphasize using these tools to monitor and penalize individuals who repeatedly engage in reckless driving on our public roads.”
Martinez hopes California’s Stop Super Speeders Act will prevent future fatalities caused by excessive speeding.
Assembly Bill 2276, authored by Assembly member Esmeralda Soria, D-Merced, would establish a pilot program requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for drivers convicted of reckless driving on highways, street racing or driving more than 100 miles per hour.
This technology uses GPS and speed limit data to physically restrict vehicles from exceeding posted limits, such as going 70 mph in a 50 mph zone.
Safety tips from the CHP
The CHP encourages drivers to slow down, stay focused and do their part to keep California’s roadways safe.
“Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to changing traffic conditions and greatly increases the severity of crashes,” the CHP said in an April 27 news release. “Even a slight increase in speed can significantly affect the outcome of a crash.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles’ California Driver’s Handbook, your speed should depend on:
The number of vehicles on the roadThe speed of other vehicles on the roadThe road surfaceBicyclists or pedestrians on or crossing the roadWeather conditions such as rain, fog, snow, wind or dustTraffic congestion
You should “avoid weaving in and out of freeway lanes,” the CHP said, noting that “small changes in your driving habits can help reduce congestion.”
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Gagandeep Singh is a service journalism reporter for The Fresno Bee. He holds a master’s degree in politics and global affairs from Columbia Journalism School. Prior to Bee, he worked for CalMatters, BBC News and the Los Angeles Times. He focuses on migration, education, criminal justice and the South Asian diaspora in California. He is fluent in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.