Driving your truck or SUV means contending with more drivers on the open road than ever before. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), there are 276 million registered personal and commercial vehicles in the U.S., most of which are in New York, Texas, California, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
The states and districts with the least include Rhode Island, Wyoming, Alaska, Vermont, and Washington D.C. Because so many vehicles share the same roadways, traffic crashes are common. And many of them result in fatalities.
What people don’t know about the traffic crashes that occur on U.S. roadways
According to the National Safety Council, in 2022, approximately 5.2 million people suffered injuries in traffic crashes that were severe enough to require medical attention. A separate Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study revealed that some 42,514 people lost their lives in traffic crashes on U.S. roads. That works out to about 12.8 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.33 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. These crashes, which occur on interstates, freeways, and even small roads, cost the U.S. almost $900 billion annually in medical bills, vehicle repairs, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and personal injury lawsuits.
What states have the most dangerous for drivers?
Multiple things make driving in some states more dangerous than driving in others. Studies show that New Mexico, Wyoming, Texas, and Oklahoma are among the worst of the worst.
New Mexico
By far, New Mexico is the most dangerous state for drivers. According to a study published by Forbes, there are several reasons why. The state experienced 10.16 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers due to distracted driving between 2019 and 2023, the highest in the nation. As far as non-fatal traffic crashes, New Mexico comes in third. Between 2019 and 2023, 8.11 per 100,000 licensed drivers caused a crash while driving under the influence, the third-highest number of fatal car crashes involving drunk driving in the nation. Negligent, reckless, and aggressive driving also makes New Mexico a dangerous state for drivers. Between 2019 and 2023, 9.66 per 100,000 licensed drivers caused traffic crashes because they were speeding, racing, or driving too fast in poor weather conditions.
Wyoming
Although we don’t hear much about Wyoming, the state is considered the second-most dangerous state for drivers. Between 2019 and 2023, 2.93 per 100,000 licensed drivers caused fatal crashes on Wyoming roads due to drowsy driving. Like New Mexico, Wyoming, too, is home to negligent, reckless, and aggressive drivers. The same study published by Forbes shows that fatal crashes due to distracted driving were caused by 2.93 per 100,000 licensed drivers. Also noteworthy, fatal crashes caused by driving too fast for conditions, speeding, and racing were caused by 9.42 per 100,000 licensed drivers. Drunk driving also makes Wyoming dangerous for drivers. Law enforcement and state agencies revealed that 7.87 per 100,000 licensed drivers caused fatal traffic crashes due to driving impaired between 2019 and 2023.
Texas
The sheer number of impaired drivers on Texas roadways at any given time makes Texas the third-most dangerous state for drivers. Studies show that between 2019 and 2023, 8.32 per 100,000 licensed drivers caused a fatal crash due to impaired driving. But impaired driving is not the only issue in the Lone Star State. The same studies show that 1.29 per 100,000 licensed drivers caused fatal crashes due to driving while drowsy, 6.67 per 100,000 caused fatal crashes by driving too fast in poor weather conditions, and 1.23 per 100,000 caused fatal crashes by disobeying traffic signs and traffic signals.
Oklahoma
The Sooner State has the sixth highest rate of fatal car crashes in the US. In 2021, the state’s largest city, Oklahoma City experienced 1,700 car crashes resulting in 99 fatalities. Oklahoma also ranks high for fatal crashes caused by distracted driving and excessive speed. The state also has the ninth-highest rate of fatal crashes caused by drunk drivers.Â
Conclusion
In summary, these states are far and away the most dangerous states for drivers. But they are hardly the only ones. That’s why all drivers should buckle up and be mindful of their surroundings whenever they take to the open road.
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