Why So Many Fatal Police Pursuits Start With Minor Traffic Stops — And Why Experts Say It’s Time for National Reform

Police pursuits have long been presented as a necessary tool for law enforcement, but new national data reveals that the majority of fatal pursuits begin with something far less serious than violent crime. In fact, hundreds of deadly chases every year start with speeding, a broken taillight, or a driver simply failing to stop.

Between 2017 and 2022, 3,336 people were killed in police pursuits across the United States. What’s most concerning: more innocent passengers and bystanders died than fleeing drivers, raising urgent questions about whether pursuit policies nationwide are putting the public at unnecessary risk.

A growing number of states and major cities — from Atlanta to Seattle to Milwaukee — have begun tightening their pursuit policies. Yet others continue high-speed chases for low-level violations, often with devastating consequences.

This analysis by Jones and Swanson explores why these chases happen, who is paying the price, and which reforms experts say could save lives immediately.

Low-Level Traffic Stops Are Triggering High-Speed Fatalities

National data shows that pursuits leading to deaths were most commonly initiated for:

Traffic-stop categories include serious violations like DUI — but also routine stops for:

When these encounters escalate into high-speed pursuits, the risk to the broader public increases dramatically. Even a 10–20 second chase can reach dangerous speeds in busy residential areas.

Public safety advocates warn that the decision to pursue often creates far more danger than the original violation itself — especially when suspects panic and accelerate to high speeds.

The Toll: More Uninvolved People Are Dying Than Suspects

From 2017 to 2022:

This means 1,099 innocent people died — people walking, driving home from work, or riding in a vehicle they didn’t control.

Many of these fatalities involve:

These figures have sparked a growing national conversation: If more innocent people are dying than suspects, are current pursuit policies defensible?

Young Adult Drivers Are Most Likely to Be Killed

The age data consistently shows who is most at risk:

Young adults — particularly men — make up the majority of pursuit fatalities. Factors include impulsivity, panic during traffic stops, and high-risk driving behaviors.

But regardless of age, the numbers show that split-second decisions during a stop can permanently alter multiple families’ lives.

States With the Highest Pursuit Fatality Rates

Between 2017 and 2022, the states with the most pursuit-related deaths were:

Many of these states share common themes:

Some state patrol agencies recorded more pursuit deaths than entire police departments in major cities, highlighting significant variance in pursuit culture and policy.

Why Pursuits Escalate — And Why They’re Hard to Stop Once They Begin

Experts point to several factors that lead minor stops to devolve into high-speed chases:

1. Driver Panic

Drivers may flee because they:

In many cases, the underlying issue is not violent or threatening, yet the decision to flee creates chaos.

2. Officer Discretion

In states that allow troopers or officers to independently initiate pursuits, chase rates are significantly higher.

Georgia State Patrol, for example, allows full discretion — and recorded:

3. Department Culture

Some agencies emphasize stopping fleeing drivers quickly, while others emphasize safety and de-escalation.

The result is a patchwork of inconsistent practices that heavily influence fatality rates.

Reform: What Other Cities Are Doing — And Why It Works

National safety experts and policy researchers increasingly recommend restricting pursuits to the most serious situations.

Cities that tightened pursuit rules saw dramatic drops in fatalities:

Common reforms include:

Where these policies were implemented, fatality rates — for both suspects and civilians — dropped significantly.

The Path Toward Safer Pursuits Nationwide

The national data is unambiguous: High-speed chases for minor offenses routinely kill innocent people.

With more than 3,300 deaths in six years and over 1,000 innocent victims, policymakers and law enforcement leaders face increasing pressure to reassess pursuit policies.

Experts argue that adopting evidence-based standards could:

As more jurisdictions take steps to limit pursuits, the conversation is shifting toward a central question:

How many fatalities could be avoided if law enforcement nationwide adopted stricter, safety-first pursuit policies?

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