Reno, Nev. — Nevada recorded a higher-than-average rate of fatal crashes involving young drivers where speed contributed to the collision during the five-year span from 2020 through 2024, according to a new analysis by DeHoyos Accident Attorneys that reviewed federal crash databases and census estimates.
State numbers and trends
The report attributes 166 deaths in Nevada to fatal crashes involving drivers ages 15 to 20 in which speeding was a factor. That equates to an average of 33.2 fatal crashes per year in that age group and a per-capita rate of 17.25 deaths per 100,000 residents ages 15–20 — roughly 18% above the national figure of 14.67.
State data did not move in a straight line during the five-year period. Annual totals reported in the analysis were:
| Year | Fatal crashes (teens, speeding involved) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 39 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 33 |
| 2023 | 27 |
| 2024 | 44 |
The 2024 rate represented a five-year high, at 22.14 fatal crashes per 100,000 teens — about 51% higher than the national rate for that period, the analysis says.
Local factors and safety concerns
In northern Nevada, longer travel distances on high-speed routes such as Interstate 80 and U.S. 395 are highlighted by safety groups as a persistent risk for younger drivers. Researchers and advocates also note that the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day — often called the "100 Deadliest Days of Summer" — typically sees more miles driven, more passengers in vehicles and higher exposure to risky behaviors including speeding.
DeHoyos' study used the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Crash Data Analysis Network and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates to calculate state rates. The analysis ranked states by per-capita rates; Nevada was listed at No. 15. The top three states in the report by per-capita rate were Montana, New Mexico and Arizona.
What the numbers mean locally
According to the analysis, if Nevada had matched the national per-capita rate over the five-year window, the state would have averaged about 28 fatal crashes a year in this category instead of 33.2 — a difference the report says could represent an estimated 25 lives potentially spared across the period.
- Key corridors: Interstate 80 and U.S. 395 are cited as high-risk in rural and suburban stretches.
- Seasonal risk: Summer months see increased travel and passenger loads among teens.
- Prevention focus: Reducing speeding and curbing risky passenger behavior are central to safety campaigns.
The findings underscore the continued need for targeted education, enforcement and community programs that address why young drivers speed and how to reduce exposure. Local officials and safety advocates in Nevada have previously emphasized driver training, graduated licensing rules and outreach to families as tools to lower crash risk among younger motorists.
As communities prepare for summer travel, families and teen drivers are encouraged to discuss safe driving practices, limit distractions, and follow posted speed limits on both urban and rural highways.
