Traveling requires taking into account many factors.
One factor that is often overlooked is traffic.
Knowing how many fatal accidents a location has can help you determine whether you will take your own car, rent a vehicle, or find other transportation.
When moving from one state to another, it is also important to consider the safety of the roads you will be navigating on a daily basis.
If you have teen drivers, this can be of even greater consideration.
Let’s take a look at the safest and most dangerous states in regard to fatal car accidents.
Contents
Fatal Car Accidents by State
| State | Fatal Crashes | Deaths | Deaths Per 100k Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 852 | 934 | 18.6 |
| Alaska | 53 | 64 | 8.7 |
| Arizona | 967 | 1054 | 14.7 |
| Arkansas | 585 | 638 | 21.2 |
| California | 3558 | 3847 | 9.7 |
| Colorado | 574 | 622 | 10.8 |
| Connecticut | 279 | 295 | 8.2 |
| Delaware | 104 | 116 | 11.7 |
| District of Columbia | 34 | 36 | 5.2 |
| Florida | 3098 | 3331 | 15.4 |
| Georgia | 1522 | 1664 | 15.5 |
| Hawaii | 81 | 85 | 5.9 |
| Idaho | 188 | 214 | 11.6 |
| Illinois | 1087 | 1194 | 9.3 |
| Indiana | 815 | 897 | 13.2 |
| Iowa | 304 | 337 | 10.6 |
| Kansas | 382 | 426 | 14.5 |
| Kentucky | 709 | 780 | 17.3 |
| Louisiana | 762 | 828 | 17.8 |
| Maine | 151 | 164 | 12 |
| Maryland | 540 | 567 | 9.2 |
| Massachusetts | 327 | 343 | 4.9 |
| Michigan | 1011 | 1084 | 10.8 |
| Minnesota | 369 | 394 | 6.9 |
| Mississippi | 687 | 752 | 25.4 |
| Missouri | 914 | 987 | 16 |
| Montana | 190 | 213 | 19.6 |
| Nebraska | 217 | 233 | 11.9 |
| Nevada | 293 | 317 | 10.2 |
| New Hampshire | 98 | 104 | 7.5 |
| New Jersey | 547 | 584 | 6.3 |
| New Mexico | 365 | 398 | 18.8 |
| New York | 963 | 1046 | 5.2 |
| North Carolina | 1412 | 1538 | 14.7 |
| North Dakota | 96 | 100 | 12.8 |
| Ohio | 1154 | 1230 | 10.4 |
| Oklahoma | 599 | 652 | 16.5 |
| Oregon | 461 | 508 | 12 |
| Pennsylvania | 1060 | 1129 | 8.7 |
| Rhode Island | 66 | 67 | 6.1 |
| South Carolina | 962 | 1064 | 20.7 |
| South Dakota | 132 | 141 | 15.9 |
| Tennessee | 1119 | 1217 | 17.6 |
| Texas | 3520 | 3874 | 13.3 |
| Utah | 256 | 276 | 8.4 |
| Vermont | 58 | 62 | 9.6 |
| Virginia | 796 | 850 | 9.8 |
| Washington | 525 | 560 | 7.3 |
| West Virginia | 249 | 267 | 14.9 |
| Wisconsin | 561 | 614 | 10.4 |
| Wyoming | 114 | 127 | 22 |
Other Information We Can Discover From Fatal Car Accident Information
There is more to be discovered by knowing an area’s fatal accident information than simply knowing whether it is safe to drive in an area.
One major thing this information can tell you is the rate you will be paying for auto insurance.
States where it is more likely to have an accident will see higher premiums and deductibles than a state with a lower number of accidents.
The numbers can indicate the condition of the roads in the area in question.
It can give an idea of how often traffic laws are enforced.
It can even give some insight into the lifestyle atmosphere of an area.
Finally, knowing how many fatal car accidents occur in an area can be a good basis for deeper exploration into making travel safer for everyone.
The Most Dangerous States for Fatal Car Accidents
It is interesting to note that the states with the greatest number of fatal car accidents based on casualties per 100,000 people are mainly in the southern part of the country.
This includes the southwestern states.
Mississippi appears to be the most dangerous place to drive, with 25.4 people perishing out of every 100,000.
Following Mississippi are:
- Wyoming – 22/100,000
- Arkansas – 21.2/100,000
- South Carolina – 20.8/100,000
- Montana – 21.3/100,000
- New Mexico – 18.8/100,000
- Alabama – 18.6/100,000
- Louisiana – 17.8/100,000
- Tennessee – 17.6/100,000
- Oklahoma – 16.5/100,000
The Safest States Regarding Fatal Vehicle Accidents
The majority of the states where it is less likely to have a fatal car accident seem to be located in the New England region, with a couple of exceptions.
Massachusetts tops our list of the places less likely to experience a fatal car accident, with 4.9/100,000.
This state is followed by:
- New York – 5.2/100,000
- District of Columbia – 5.2/100,000
- Hawaii – 5.9/100,000
- Rhode Island – 6.1/100,000
- New Jersey – 6.3/100,000
- Minnesota – 6.9/100,000
- Washington – 7.3/100,000
- New Hampshire – 7.5/100,000
- Connecticut – 8.2/100,000
Frequently Asked Questions
Are seat belt laws mandatory in all states?
Front passenger laws for all adults are in place for all states except for New Hampshire.
Thirty-three states, and the District of Columbia, also have mandatory seat belt laws for back-seat passengers.
What states have the safest car travel laws for young children?
All states have laws in place that were created to help keep children safe when riding in motor vehicles.
Of all these laws, only three require that a child be in a rear-facing car seat.
These states are California, New Jersey, and Oklahoma.
Which states have the highest and lowest highway speeds?
There is a stretch of highway in Texas where the maximum speed limit is 85 MPH.
The majority of the country has maximum highway speeds between 75-85 MPH.
The New England area, however, normally has limits of 65 MPH on the highway.
It’s important to not only consider the destination when traveling, but also the safety of the roads in that area.
Knowing the number of fatal car accidents in a state can help make informed decisions about transportation.
It’s interesting to see the differences between the most dangerous and safest states, and how this information can also impact auto insurance rates and road conditions.
And it’s great to see that laws are in place to keep both adults and children safe while traveling.