The most dangerous (and safest) states for drivers
If you’ve ever taken a cross-country roadtrip, you probably noticed — in addition to changes in scenery — differences in road conditions, traffic laws, driving behaviors, and vehicle choice when moving from state to state. Perhaps less obvious, though, is that these differences make certain states far more dangerous (or more safe) than others when it comes to driving.
To evaluate road safety across the U.S., auto insurance comparison site AutoInsurance.org analyzed the most recent NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data. Using this data, its researchers computed certain safety indicators for every state. Below is a heatmap showing road fatalities per 100,000 by state.
The data highlights one obvious trend — the more rural the state, the more dangerous the roads (generally). While city driving can be intimidating — with their busy intersections, high densities of pedestrians, and difficult parking among other challenges — urban roads are actually far safer.
In 2016, for example, the total number of deaths that occurred as a result of accidents on rural roads actually exceeded that which occurred on urban roads (18,590 vs. 17,656) despite rural roads being far less traveled. When adjusting these numbers for traffic volume differences, the disparity is striking. The fatality rate per vehicle mile driven is almost three time higher on rural roads than urban ones, according to AutoInsurance.org research. Not surprisingly, as the percent of miles driven on rural roads increases (for each state), so does the fatality rate.
So, next time you’re behind the wheel, keep these statistics in mind. While driving in rural areas might seem safer, the data shows otherwise. The below list, ordered from safest to most dangerous, shows how all 50 states and the District of Columbia stack up in terms of road safety.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
51. District of Columbia
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
50. Rhode Island
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
49. New York
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
48. Massachusetts
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
47. New Jersey
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
46. Minnesota
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
45. Washington
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
44. Connecticut
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
43. Illinois
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
42. Hawaii
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
41. Maryland
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
40. Virginia
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
39. Pennsylvania
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
38. California
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
37. Utah
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
36. Ohio
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
35. Vermont
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
34. New Hampshire
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
33. Wisconsin
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
32. Michigan
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
31. Colorado
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
30. Alaska
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
29. Nebraska
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
28. Nevada
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
27. Maine
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
26. Oregon
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
25. Indiana
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
24. Delaware
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
23. Iowa
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
22. South Dakota
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
21. Texas
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
20. Arizona
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
19. North Carolina
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
18. West Virginia
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
17. Kansas
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
16. Georgia
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
15. North Dakota
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
14. Idaho
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
13. Missouri
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
12. Florida
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
11. Tennessee
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
10. Louisiana
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
9. Oklahoma
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
8. Arkansas
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
7. Montana
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
6. Kentucky
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
5. Wyoming
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
4. New Mexico
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
3. South Carolina
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
2. Alabama
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
1. Mississippi
Methodology
AutoInsurance.org analyzed vehicle accident data from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The NHTSA FARS data only includes accidents that resulted in a fatality. State population data was obtained from the American Community Survey 2012-2016 5-Year Estimates. Annual vehicle miles driven by state and road type were obtained from the Federal Highway Administration Office of Highway Policy Information.
All data used is from 2016, the most recent available.
The NHTSA defines distracted driving as diversion of attention from the driving task to some other activity. Driving while daydreaming or lost in thought is considered distracted driving. Physical conditions/impairments (fatigue, alcohol, medical condition, etc.) or psychological states (anger, emotional, depressed, etc.) are not.