Preliminary data from the North Dakota Department of Transportation for 2024 shows that nearly 69% of fatal crashes in the state involved lane departure.

Lane departure crashes occur when a vehicle crosses the center line or drifts off the road, often at high speeds. NDDOT identified lane departures as a leading cause of death on rural highways.

According to NDDOT data from 2024, 78% of fatal single-vehicle lane departure crashes resulted in the vehicle overturning or rolling over. The remaining 22% involved collisions with fixed objects such as trees, utility poles, traffic signs or mailboxes.

The NDDOT said lane departures can be prevented by putting away phones and avoiding distractions, staying alert and pulling over when drowsy, focusing on the road and not what’s happening inside the vehicle, always drive sober, obey speed limits and adjust for road conditions, make use of a vehicle’s Lane Departure Warning System, drive defensively and check mirrors to spot hazards early.

“Every roadway improvement helps protect motorists, but the most powerful protection comes from responsible choices behind the wheel,” said Karin Mongeon, director of the NDDOT Highway Safety Division. “It’s going to take all of us to reach Vision Zero – zero traffic deaths and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.”