DALLAS — Federal statistics show that fatal car accidents are on the rise nationwide.
In 2021, more than 39,500 fatal car crashes occurred on U.S. roads, a 10% increase from 2020, according to the Federal Highway Safety Administration.
In some states, dangerous driving tends to be more common, putting drivers at greater risk behind the wheel.
To find out which states have the worst drivers, Forbes Advisor compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., across six key metrics.
Key Takeaways
- Texas tops the list of worst drivers by state, while Washington, D.C., is home to the best drivers in the nation.
- Five of the top 10 states with the worst drivers are in the South, including Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky and South Carolina.
- Seven of the top 10 states with the best drivers are in the East Coast area, including Washington, D.C., Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island.
- Montana is home to the most drunk drivers involved in fatal car accidents (19.01 per 100,000 licensed drivers) and New Mexico reports the highest number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver (9.54 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
The worst 5
Texas
Texas’ score: 100 out of 100
- Texas ranks second worst in the nation for two of the metrics we considered: fatal car accidents involving a drowsy driver (1.35 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers) and fatal car accidents involving a driver who was driving the wrong way on a one-way street or on the wrong side of the road (1.53 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- Texas also reports the third highest number of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes (17.24 per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- Texas has the ninth highest number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver (1.92 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
Louisiana
Louisiana’s score: 89.32 out of 100
- Louisiana has the third highest number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver (3.74 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers) and the eighth highest number of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes (13.44 per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- Louisiana reports the 10th highest number of fatal car accidents involving a drowsy driver (0.9 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
Kansas
Kansas’ score: 84.79 out of 100
- Kansas has the second highest number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver (4.46 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- The state has the third highest number of fatal car accidents involving a driver who disobeyed traffic signs, traffic signals or a traffic officer (1.47 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- Kansas is the fourth worst state for fatal car accidents involving a drowsy driver (1.28 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers) and fifth worst for fatal car accidents involving a driver who was driving the wrong way on a one-way street or on the wrong side of the road (1.42 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s score: 80.53 out of 100
- Oklahoma has the seventh highest number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver (2.02 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- Oklahoma reports the eighth highest number of fatal car accidents involving a driver who failed to obey traffic signs or a traffic officer (1.27 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- The state is the ninth worst for drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes (13.02 drunk drivers were involved in a fatal collision per 100,000 licensed drivers).
Kentucky
Kentucky’s score: 78.96 out of 100
- Kentucky has the fourth highest number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver (3.37 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- Kentucky reports the eighth highest number of fatal car accidents involving a drowsy driver (0.93 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
- The state also has the ninth highest number of fatal car accidents involving a driver who was driving the wrong way on a one-way street or on the wrong side of the road (0.74 accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers).
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Texas has the highest score now because of all of the out of state people that have moved there and screwed things up. They don’t know how to drive!!! Also, because of lack of traffic control because of all of the police defunding!
I have to call into question the metrics involved in this study. It only uses crash data, DUI data, and similar “Contact” data. The absolute worst, most discourteous, demanding, raging, and out of control mentalities I’ve ever seen are clustered in the northeast, Chicago, Atlanta, and frankly, most large metro areas. To suggest that DC has the best drivers is laughable, to say the least. There are fewer crashes where traffic speeds are lower because of jam-ups – a factor not considered here, and again, if you want to look at the raw, rotten driving habits, metro Boston, Chicago, and NYC are the worst places I’ve ever driven. Bad driving is a symptom of the general moral decay of society; the selfish, me-first-to-heck-with-you prevailing attitude of today. Lack of adequate traffic enforcement is a contributory factor, but by my observation, cops often drive as bad or worse than civilians – they fail to set a good example, as is their duty. Still, the measure of a person’s character is what they do when no one is watching… if you have to have a cop around to obey the law, what does that say about you? Moral decay of society.
Another left leaning study by Forbes magazine. Used by those who live in the city, and probably has less than a two block walk to their resistance. Their metrics make no sense and most accidents in the north east is not documented! I live in Maryland and have officers both county and state who can confirm this statement.
Thank you Pastor Ron you nailed it
Yes Pastor Ron, you said it correctly. Been on these highways for over 40 years. The complete rudeness of general traveling public is so prevalent I can not even begin to see how our younger drivers are even going to have a clue of how the privilege (it is not a right) of operating a vehicle (motorcyclist and bicyclist included) is to be considerate of the humans around us!!!