There’s no denying that the easy availability and commercialization of private cars make daily tasks easier. Commuting from one place to another has become simple, fast, and convenient. More than 90% of the families in the United States own at least one private vehicle used for their everyday commute. However, just like everything, increased vehicle availability also has its cons—road accidents.
Road accidents are a common occurrence and, in many cases, lead to severe injuries and even fatalities. The injuries and damages that occur due to accidents affect two parties: the ones directly involved and their loved ones. Drivers must be more aware of driving precautions and conduct, and driving laws are used to promote safe, lawful driving, leading to safer roads and fewer accidents. Good information and a systematic categorization of the statistics and reasons for road accidents between various states must be considered accordingly.
“This analysis of driving patterns and accidents across the USA provides a resourceful ground to work on implementing better training, awareness, and policies to make driving better across all states. It specifically highlights what areas states need to improve, signifying which states need more traffic awareness and attention to make them safer in driving and fatal road accidents,” comments personal injury lawyer Felix Gonzalez.
One such analysis of road accident statistics across the US states was carried out by CarInsuranceCompanies.com in 2011 and published in 2022. The analysis categorizes the states using different accident statistics, such as fatal accidents, accidents due to speeding, drunk driving, and careless driving, amongst others. In the final ranking, states are ranked based on how bad the drivers in the states are in terms of fatal car accidents. Driving statistics are analyzed in five categories. Each state was given a rank for each category, relative to how the state compared to other states on fatal accidents for that category, such as speeding deaths.
A Few Significant Findings of the 2022 Analysis by CarInsuranceCompanies.com
- Texas and New Mexico were the worst states regarding fatal accidents and bad drivers.
- Texas and New Mexico also ranked the worst states in the careless driving deaths category.
- Minnesota was the best state in this analysis, making it the safest driving state in the USA.
- Half of the states in the USA were categorized as the worst in the speeding category. This shows that speeding is an area that needs immediate attention.
- South Carolina, Texas, and Montana are three states that have consistently been in the top 10 states with the worst drivers for 10 straight years since 2011 when this analysis started.
- No Northeastern states were placed in the top 10 worst states with the worst drivers.
- The 10 states reported as the top 10 worst states with bad drivers in the analysis by CarInsuranceCompanies.com all had an overall fatal car accident rate of 1.34 per 100 million VMT (Vehicle Miles Traveled).
- The fatality rate differed in the top 10, with the highest being in South Carolina at 1.73 per 100 million VMT and the lowest amongst the 10 states in Hawaii at 0.98 per 100 million VMT.
Drivers across all states must be provided with good training and prime information about road accidents and driving behavior to reduce road accidents. As proven by the analysis, some states require more attention and immediate response than others. The drivers also need to be informed about the repercussions of impaired driving, such as physical injuries, fatalities, economic losses, getting a DUI or DWI on a permanent record, suspension or revoking of a driver’s license, etc.
Wrapping Things Up
The 10-year U.S. Driving Behavior Analysis by CarInsuranceComparison.com underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to enhance road safety. By identifying states with higher fatality rates and recurring issues like speeding and careless driving, this study provides a foundation for improving driver training, enforcing stricter laws, and fostering greater awareness to reduce accidents nationwide.
