The Deadliest U.S. Counties for Distracted Driving-Related Fatalities

Between 2019 and 2024, there were 18,009 fatal crashes in the United States involving a distracted driver. While cell phones are the most commonly cited cause, distracted driving includes any action that diverts a driver’s attention. This includes seemingly mundane activities such as drinking, changing the radio station, checking your appearance in a mirror, or even talking to a passenger in the back seat.

Although these distractions and the resulting crashes are unfortunately common, some counties experience far more distracted driving-related fatalities than others, both in total numbers and relative to their populations. Today, Ligori & Ligori are taking a closer look at the deadliest counties for distracted driving-related fatalities, with a specific focus on Florida’s ranking among them.

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What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving refers to any instance in which a driver loses focus while operating a vehicle. These distractions fall into three categories: visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the steering wheel), and cognitive (taking the mind off driving). Common distractions include checking your phone, adjusting navigation units, managing entertainment screens, eating, and interacting with passengers. When any of these behaviors causes an accident that results in a loss of life, the incident is classified as involving a distracted driver.

To determine which U.S. counties experienced the highest frequency of these accidents, our study analyzed crash data from the United States Department of Transportation Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) for 2019 through 2024. We included counties in the per capita rankings if they had at least 50,000 residents.

National Trends

From 2019 to 2024, Cook County, Illinois, experienced the highest number of distracted driving-related fatal crashes, totaling 506. Bexar County, Texas, followed with 301 fatal crashes, while Bernalillo County, New Mexico, recorded 203. Rounding out the top five were Maricopa County, Arizona, with 179 crashes, and Orange County, Florida, with 178.

Each of these counties is among the most populous in its respective state. In areas with limited public transportation, this translates into more residents, commuters, visitors, and commercial vehicles on the roads. Naturally, busier roads increase the likelihood of distractions that can lead to serious accidents. Additionally, the stop-and-go nature of urban traffic may create a false sense of security for drivers, encouraging them to check their phones or look away briefly, further heightening the risk of accidents.

Lack of public transportation does not apply to Cook County, Illinois, as an explanation, however. As the home of Chicago, Cook County features one of the most extensive and multi-faceted public transportation systems in the country. Nonetheless, there is an absolutely massive volume of daily commuters who heavily contribute to the high distracted driving-related crash figure.

In the per capita rankings, New Mexico occupies all five top spots, led by McKinley County with 9.28 fatal crashes per 10,000 residents. Eddy County follows at 7.00, then Lea County at 6.92, Chaves County at 4.87, and Otero County at 3.44. In total, nine New Mexico counties appear in the top 30.

While many factors likely contribute to these tragic incidents, the state’s laws may play a major role. New Mexico prohibits texting while driving, but unlike many states, it does not ban drivers from holding a phone or making handheld calls. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, laws that prohibit even holding a cell phone while driving are more effective in protecting motorists from accidents than those that only forbid texting. It is important to note, however, that several New Mexico municipalities including Gallup (McKinley County), Albuquerque (Bernalillo), and Las Cruces (Doña Ana) have stepped up with their own hands-free ordinances, so the statewide law cannot act as an explanation for these high-ranking counties.

In addition to these legal limitations, New Mexico has extensive rural roadways, where crashes are more likely to be fatal. This may be due to higher speeds than in urban settings and slower response times, as emergency responders may need to travel longer distances to reach crash victims.

Louisiana is another state worth noting; eight of the top 30 per capita locations are Louisiana parishes. To combat this alarming trend, Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 519 (Act 288) during the 2025 legislative session. The law imposes a $250 fine for handheld phone use in school or construction zones and a $100 fine for any other location on a road, except in emergencies or when reporting a crime. As of April 1, 2027, agencies such as the State Police and the Department of Transportation must submit an annual report on the impact of these new sanctions.

How Florida Compares

Here in Florida, 53 of our 67 counties reported at least one fatality from distracted driving between 2019 and 2024. Concerningly, many Florida counties rank among the deadliest in the country by raw crash counts, even surpassing more populous counties in other states. Three Florida counties in particular (Orange, Hillsborough, and Osceola) rank among the 20 deadliest overall for distracted driving-related fatalities.

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Orange County leads the state in distracted driving fatalities, with an alarming 178 fatal crashes from 2019 through 2024, the fifth-highest total in the nation. Hillsborough County ranks second in the state with 100 fatal crashes, followed by Osceola County with 78. Central Florida’s strong representation is likely tied to the region’s massive tourism economy. In 2024 alone, Orlando welcomed more than 75 million visitors, many unfamiliar with local roads and often relying heavily on GPS directions while navigating rental cars in crowded areas, increasing the risk of accidents.

When examining per capita statistics, Wakulla County has the highest rate of distracted driving-related fatal crashes, at 2.16 fatal crashes per 10,000 residents. Walton County follows at 2.12 and Jackson County at 2.00. Orange County’s much larger population brings its rate down to 1.16, despite having the highest total number of crashes in the state.

Distracted Driving Can Have Lasting Consequences

Distracted driving accidents are preventable, but proving that a driver caused a crash due to distraction can be complicated. Compiling evidence such as phone records, witness statements, traffic camera footage, police reports, vehicle data, and other relevant information can be stressful and may become harder to obtain over time, especially for those recovering from injuries or the loss of a loved one.

If you were injured or lost a loved one due to a distracted driver in Florida, you do not have to navigate the legal and insurance process alone. Contact Ligori & Ligori, Attorneys at Law, today to schedule a consultation and learn what options may be available in your case.

Methodology

To determine the deadliest U.S. counties for distracted driving-related fatalities, we collected data from the United States Department of Transportation’s Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) on fatal crashes by county that were coded as being associated with a distracted driver. To determine the per-capita figures, we divided these figures by the 2024 county population estimates provided by the United States Census Bureau. At the national level, only counties with 50,000 or more people are included. For the Florida snapshot, there is no county population minimum.

The Top 30 Deadliest Counties Per Capita (Fatal Crashes per 10,000 People)

There were a total of 18,009 fatal crashes involving a distracted driver from 2019 to 2024.

NOTE: Only counties with 50,000 or more people are included.

The Top 20 Deadliest Counties Overall for Distracted Driving-Related Fatalities

The Deadliest Florida Counties for Distracted Driving-Related Fatalities

Top 10 Deadliest Florida Counties Overall for Distracted Driving-Related Fatalities

Sources

• United States Department of Transportation – Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool
• United States Census Bureau County Population Estimates for 2024