Nevada’s Deadliest Roads and Fatal Accident Statistics

MoneyGeek examined 877 fatal accidents in Nevada from 2018 to 2020 to find the state's worst roads. In particular, we focused on 389 of the state's roads out of the 100,805 miles of road in Nevada.

We also investigated the factors contributing to fatal accidents in Nevada, including the number related to intoxicated driving, excessive speeding, distracted driving, the winter season and the month. To identify the level of risk based on area, MoneyGeek also compiled information on the deadliest highways in each county.

• SR-582 Boulder Highway from E Sahara Avenue to Missouri Avenue is the deadliest stretch of road in Nevada. Between 2018 and 2020, 11 fatal accidents occurred here.
• Speeding was a factor in 27% of accidents, followed closely by drunk driving at 26.9%. That’s 237 speeding-related fatal accidents and 236 drunk driving-related fatal accidents from 2018 to 2020.
• Distracted driving was involved in 3.2% of accidents. This contributed to 28 accidents within the three-year period from the beginning of 2018 to the end of 2020. Nevada ranks as the 48th-worst state when it comes to distracted driving.
• September had the highest number of fatal accidents between 2018 and 2020. September had 92 accidents from 2018 to 2020, followed by August (85) and December (79).
• Clark County had the highest number of deadly crashes of any county. The deadliest road within the county was I-15 (36).

Of the 877 fatal traffic accidents in Nevada between 2018 and 2020, 236 were related to drunk driving. This is a significant factor in fatal car accidents in the state, second only to speeding.

It goes without saying that alcohol-impaired driving is extremely risky. In fact, having even a little bit to drink can be dangerous for you and those around you. While Nevada’s laws mark a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.8% as illegal, a BAC of merely 0.02% can make it difficult for you to concentrate on the road.

Drunk driving has serious repercussions even if there is no accident involved. Penalties can include restrictions on driving privileges, license suspension and even jail time. Generally, a DUI conviction can make car insurance far more expensive, making it difficult to find affordable car insurance in Nevada. Specifically, you might be required to get Nevada SR-22 insurance, which will significantly increase your premiums.

Speeding contributed to 237 fatal accidents in Nevada between 2018 and 2020, accounting for 27% of all fatal accidents. Of the factors we examined, it was the highest contributor to deadly accidents across the state.

Whether you're cruising down the highway, navigating city streets or making your way through a suburb, driving too fast increases your risk of causing an accident. At high speeds, it's more likely that you'll lose control over the vehicle, endangering yourself, other drivers and passengers, as well as pedestrians. Thus, if you are involved in a collision where speeding was a factor, you or those around you could suffer life-threatening injuries or even death.

Distracted driving is a problem in the Silver State, ranking as the third largest contributor to fatal car accidents among the factors we analyzed. Between 2018 and 2020, 28 people died in accidents related to distracted driving in Nevada, accounting for 3.2% of all traffic fatalities.

In terms of the worst states for distracted driving, however, MoneyGeek found that Nevada ranks better than 94% of states.

Of all fatal accidents in Nevada between 2018 and 2020, 10.5% occurred in September, with 92 accidents resulting in death. August was the second-riskiest month, accounting for 9.7% of all fatal accidents, and the third was December, at 9%.

Your life and the lives of those around you depend on your ability to drive safely. As a bonus, safe driving habits can help you save money in the long run, as you can avoid costly repairs and medical bills. In particular, taking care to obtain the proper insurance coverage is vital. A cheap full coverage car insurance policy, for example, can help cover any injuries and damages you or others sustain if you get into an accident.

The average cost of auto insurance in Nevada is $1,900 per year. The actual premium will, however, vary by county and even city. For instance, the average cost of auto insurance in Las Vegas is $2,221, while car insurance in Reno costs an average of $1,239 per year. That is a difference of a whopping $982.

It should be noted that while MoneyGeek compiled premiums from throughout the Silver State, the numbers you see here are estimates. One thing you can do to find cheap car insurance that meets your needs is to compare quotes from multiple companies, as you can then choose the lowest offer. Keep in mind, however, that your premiums will be based on a number of factors that providers consider important, like your age, driving history and even your ZIP code.

In Nevada, within the five counties with the highest number of fatal accidents, there were 762 accidents between 2018 and 2020. That accounts for 86.88% of all fatal accidents across the state within that period.

Clark County had the highest number of fatal accidents at 555. That accounts for 63.28% of all accidents between 2018 and 2020 alone. In particular, I-15 was the most dangerous road within the county: 36 fatal accidents occurred on this road.

Regarding contributing factors, speeding was the most common factor involved in fatal accidents (164) across Clark County, followed by drunk driving (142).

MoneyGeek analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) database using fatality data from 2018, 2019 and 2020. Currently, 2020 is the latest data available in the system.