These States Have the Highest Rates of Bad Driving Habits
Driving in the US can be a breeze, but even the most relaxed states have bad drivers, as research by SmartAsset has uncovered. Using that data, we’ve compiled a list of the US states with the worst drivers, ranked worst to best. Keep reading to see where your state ranks.
Mississippi
Coming in hot as the number one state with the worst drivers in the US is Mississippi. Not only does it have the second-highest number of American driving fatalities, but over 20% of drivers are also uninsured! Driving in Mississippi can be very dangerous.
Nevada
There may be a bit of a gap between Nevada and Mississippi, but the Silver State has many bad drivers of its own. It ranks second overall, with 5.5 out of every 100 drivers arrested for driving under the influence, and only 89% of them are insured.
Tennessee
Tennessee regularly ranks highly on lists of the worst states to drive in, and it's mostly due to recklessness. A shocking 20% of drivers don't bother with insurance, and even those who do are at high risk of being involved in a fatal crash.
Florida
Unfortunately, we're not too surprised to see Florida in fourth place. This state is full of local and tourist traffic, which causes congestion, and many people get away with driving under the influence or without insurance due to a lack of law enforcement.
California
With approximately 28.3 million drivers on the roads in California, it's no shock to see that accidents are common. Californians are known to often drive aggressively, and only 84% of them have insurance. There are over 100,000 road traffic accidents per year.
Arizona
Though Arizona is considered safe, it still has some of the worst drivers in the US. There has been a worrying rise in aggressive driving behaviors, including drivers forcing others off the road, and Arizona now ranks as the third-highest state for fatal car accidents.
South Carolina
Speaking of fatal car accidents, drivers in South Carolina are around 44% more likely to be in one than the national average. This could be because approximately 4 of every 1,000 drivers are caught driving drunk, or because others drive irresponsibly while sober.
Texas
Speaking of irresponsible drivers, we’re sorry to say that Texans are pretty high on the list. Road rage and speeding are common, and this contributes to the high likelihood of having a fatal accident. Drunk driving is also worryingly common.
New Mexico
If you live in New Mexico, you’ll know how bad some of the roads are, so perhaps that explains why it’s one of the top ten states for the worst driving. Drivers regularly speed and rage, and over 21% of them don’t have insurance.
Alaska
It can be challenging to drive in Alaska, but that’s no excuse! A worrying 16% of drivers flout insurance laws, and more than 5 drivers out of every 1,000 are arrested for drunk driving. There is also a big problem of people crashing due to tiredness.
Louisiana
Louisiana is regularly flagged as one of the worst states to drive in, but are its drivers any better? For the most part, no. There’s a big problem with people speeding and texting, and driving, as well as drunk drivers getting behind the wheel.
Alabama
As the state with the 12th-worst drivers in the US, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that almost 20% of Alabamians drive without insurance. They also have a reputation for being confrontational, and around 3.5% of traffic accidents are caused by drunk driving.
Oregon
Oregon’s roads aren’t nearly as bad as people make out, but we can’t say the same for many of its drivers. 13% are currently uninsured, around 5 out of every 1,000 drivers are caught drunk, and there’s a speeding problem.
Arkansas
Arkansas drivers are in a very similar position to those in Oregon. A lack of insurance and drunk driving are two of the biggest problems in the state, and a high number of crashes are caused by bad or aggressive driving.
Colorado
Colorado is one of the best places you can drive, but you’ll have to look out for the drivers more than the roads. It has one of the highest numbers of DUI arrests in the entire US, as well as a hostile driving culture.
Georgia
Georgia is a pretty harmonious state, but research has revealed some pretty worrying statistics about its drivers. Over 10% of them drive without insurance, and even those who are insured are at risk of a bad accident on the roads.
Kentucky
Kentuckians are in a very similar boat to Georgians. Fatal car crashes are on the rise, and the risk is heightened due to people driving while distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There’s still work to be done.
Missouri
Missouri’s roads and drivers routinely get a bad rep, and while it’s not the worst state for driving, it’s also far from the best. Road rage is very common, as is, sadly, drunk driving. The likelihood of a lethal car wreck is also higher than average.
Washington
We won’t pretend that it’s easy to drive in Washington, but that’s no excuse for dangerous driving! Not only are almost 20% of drivers on the road without insurance, but around 5 out of every 1,000 drivers are arrested for driving under the influence.
Hawaii
Hawaii is close to the middle of the list, and we think it deserves to be there. While most drivers are courteous, others have terrible habits, including texting behind the wheel and running red lights. A concerning number of drivers are also caught while drunk.
North Dakota
Next up, we’ve got North Dakota, and we’re actually shocked it isn’t closer to the start of our list. It has the second-highest number of DUI arrests in the entire US, as well as a worrying number of bad collisions caused by otherwise impaired driving.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma may have far fewer DUI incidents than North Dakota, but it still has many bad drivers. Research has shown that many natives frequently Google “speeding ticket”, and speeding fines have also increased to try and reduce incidents in the future.
Wisconsin
From what we’ve read, the biggest issue with Wisconsin drivers is their perceived lack of courtesy. Approximately 6 out of every 1,000 are caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and many display defensive or aggressive driving styles that make it harder to navigate the roads safely.
Montana
Montana has quite a good reputation, and most of its drivers are good, too. However, it still ranks fairly low down the list for its 10% of uninsured drivers, high number of annual DUIs, and deadly car wrecks caused by a general disregard for safety.
Maryland
As the middle point of our list, Maryland has both the 25th-best and 25th-worst drivers in the country. We think this deduction is fair, considering that 13% of drivers are uninsured and 4 out of every 1,000 have been caught drunk driving.
Michigan
Crossing over onto the better half of the list, we have Michigan. However, though it may have fewer fatal accidents or drunken incidents than the states before it, Michigan has a massive problem with drivers attempting to intimidate others on the roads, resulting in a hostile, defensive driving culture.
North Carolina
It may have won the battle of the Carolinas, but North Carolina still has its fair share of terrible drivers. The 6.5% of uninsured drivers bring down its rating, as do the number of people who make poor decisions while driving, resulting in accidents.
South Dakota
Like North Carolina, South Dakota has fewer bad drivers than its sister state, but that doesn’t absolve it of all issues. It’s our number-one state for DUI arrests, and this very dangerous drunk driving culture massively contributes to its number of fatal accidents, which will continue growing without serious intervention.
Virginia
Virginians, you can breathe a sigh of relief! Despite only just creeping onto the ‘best drivers’ half of the list, Virginians are mostly insured, and their chance of having a deadly wreck is low. However, speeding remains a big problem for the state, and it needs to be addressed.
Indiana
Not only is Indiana a good state for driving, but its drivers are, for the most part, quite courteous and sensible. One big area for improvement is the whopping 17% of uninsured drivers on the roads, but DUIs and fatal crashes are pretty low.
Minnesota
Minnesota has many good drivers, but also some bad ones. For example, it has a higher number of DUI arrests, around 6 out of every 1,000 people, but a lower number of fatal wrecks. Overall, it’s not the worst state, but also not the best.
Rhode Island
For the past few years, Rhode Island has been voted as having the worst roads in the entire US. As for drivers, it’s a middling state, with a high number of incidents on the road, but fewer than 1 fatalities per every 100 million miles traveled.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is another mixed bag when it comes to driving. It has a low number of DUI arrests and lethal accidents, and it’s not that common for drivers to get caught breaking traffic laws. Although residents do occasionally Google “speeding ticket”!
Idaho
If you live in Idaho, you’ll be pleased to hear that its drivers are usually quite sensible. Over 91% have insurance, and fewer than 5 out of every 1,000 are arrested for drunk driving each year. However, Idahoans have been criticized for aggressive driving at times.
West Virginia
Take us home, country roads, but mind the potholes! Any West Virginian will understand the need to drive sensibly, and most do. Fewer than 3 drivers per 1,000 are arrested for driving under the influence, although there is a problem with speeding that requires tighter road traffic management.
Illinois
Illinois is on par with West Virginia, so it’s another state that has mostly good drivers, but a bad bunch that drags the overall rating down. A concerning 14% of drivers don’t bother with insurance, although fatal wrecks are quite rare, which is one good thing.
Iowa
Next up is Iowa, and it’s ranked very similarly to West Virginia and Illinois. Though its number of drivers with DUI arrests is higher at 4 out of every 1,000, the number of serious car accidents each year is very low. Overall, Iowa is doing well.
New Jersey
Despite years of bad press, we’ve got some good news for New Jersey drivers! It currently has the 12th-best drivers in the country, and it’s all thanks to their responsible behavior on the roads, which includes fewer DUIs and lethal wrecks than other states.
Delaware
We think that Delaware is an underrated state with a lot more to offer than people think. One of those things is a mostly calm driving culture, with few fatal accidents and even fewer DUIs. However, some drivers can be impatient and defensive.
Wyoming
Wyoming is the perfect state for road trips, and you’ll be in good company as this state has the tenth-best drivers in the US. Although approximately 8% currently drive without insurance, speeding ticket citations are low, decreasing the chance of a bad crash.
New Hampshire
Many previous studies have ranked New Hampshire as one of the best states to drive in, and its drivers aren’t too shabby either! There are strict laws to decrease speeding, aggressive behavior is quite rare, and the chance of a lethal wreck is low.
Kansas
Good job, Kansans! Being this close to the bottom of the list is a good thing because Kansas ranks well for driving across the board. Very few drivers are uninsured, and DUI arrests are also down. Overall, this state has a very mellow driving culture.
Ohio
Ohio is coming in hot on the heels of Kansas, with the seventh-best drivers in the country. While driving conditions are a bit treacherous, people are usually sensible, which has greatly reduced speeding and drunk driving. This cautiousness is life-saving.
Connecticut
We’re also giving the green light to Connecticut when it comes to its drivers. This state has a high majority of insured drivers, and few who have been arrested for driving under the influence. Even better, the number of fatal accidents is fewer than 1 per 100 million miles.
New York
Despite often getting a bad rep for its busy roads and even busier people, New York actually has some of the best drivers in the US. Only an approximate 6% are uninsured, and fatal car accidents and drunk driving are much rarer than we thought.
Maine
Maine is known for its treacherous roads, but its drivers actually rank quite well in terms of safety and cautiousness. Fewer than 5% are uninsured, which contributes to the state’s excellent insurance policies, although more should be done to combat drunk driving.
Vermont
Having the fourth-best drivers in the country isn’t a bad achievement at all! Vermonters are unlikely to be involved in a lethal wreck and have been criticized for being too passive on the roads. Perhaps that’s why they’re less likely to Google “traffic ticket”!
Nebraska
Nebraskans are known for being caring and friendly, and apparently, this is clear in how they drive, too. Peace officers regularly enforce traffic laws, so driving arrests are low, with only 3 out of every 1,000 people being caught under the influence.
Utah
Utah is known for its amazing quality of life, and that also extends to its roads. It has the second-best drivers in the country, and the proof is certainly in the pudding. The data shows that fatal car wrecks are rare, although a worrying 8% of drivers are still uninsured.
Massachusetts
And at the bottom of our list is Massachusetts, which currently boasts the best drivers in the entire US. The chance of being in a fatal accident is below 1%, and it’s also very rare for drivers to be arrested for driving under the influence. Good work, Massachusetts!
