New Data Reveals America's Most and Least Dangerous States for Drivers

The South and the Mountain West lead the way for the most dangerous states for drivers. Here is a look at what states experience the highest rate of fatal car crashes.

Data Analysis Reveals Most Dangerous States for Drivers

Mississippi leads the nation in a stat that is nothing to brag about. According to a new analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Mississippi is the most dangerous state for drivers based on data detailing the rate of fatal car crashes per 100,000 residents. The Magnolia State saw 24.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents.

Coming in second place was Wyoming, with 24.7 fatal car crashes per 100,000 residents. New Mexico ranked third with 20.7, with South Carolina at 19.5 and Arkansas at 19.4 rounding out the top five.

The next five up on the list no state wants to be on are Alabama at 19.1, Tennessee at 18.6, Montana at 18.4, Kentucky at 18.0, and Louisiana at 17.7. For context, the national average was 9.6 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents in 2023. This means that Mississippi's rate was more than twice the national rate.

Mississippi's 732 fatal crashes represented a 4% increase from 2022, when the state recorded 703. Wyoming's total increased 7%, from 134 to 144.

New Mexico went in the opposite direction, with fatal crashes falling 6% from 466 in 2022 to 437 in 2023. South Carolina's total declined 4%, while Arkansas saw a 6% decrease.

What About the Safest States for Drivers?

On the other side of the spectrum is the list of the safest states for drivers. Massachusetts was deemed safest with 4.9 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. New York was second at 5.7, followed by Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Hawaii, each recording 6.5 crashes per 100,000 residents.

The analysis demonstrated that several states had statistically meaningful changes year-over-year. Rhode Island saw a 37% increase in fatal accidents from 2022 to 2023. Idaho recorded the second-highest gain at 28%, while Iowa increased by 12%

Some states were able to significantly improve the rate of fatal crashes, led by Alaska with a reduction of 27%. Hawaii enjoyed a decrease of 20%, and Massachusetts fell by 21%.  

It is important to note that the stats represent fatal crashes relative to populations, rather than the total volume of crashes. This means that a state can see more fatal crashes in numbers but still have a lower rate because of its large population. It is also notable that some of the safest states also have a more developed transit system when compared to more rural states. For instance, New York's stats were inevitably helped out by the millions of residents in New York City who rely on the subway system rather than cars to get around.

In addition, Dimitri Chernyak, president of Priority Tire, noted that rural areas naturally have a higher crash rate because of higher speed limits and longer distances to area hospitals.

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