Most dangerous states to drive in
Driving is dangerous—perhaps even the most dangerous thing most Americans do in their everyday lives. Behind the wheel of a hunk of metal and plastic weighing an average of more than 2 tons, drivers aren't just risking their own lives and those of their passengers, but of everyone else on the road—or near it—as well.
The usual suspects of speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence are continuing to put Americans at risk on highways and roads. According to the most recent data from the Federal Highway Administration, an estimated 42,795 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2022—an average of almost 120 people per day. While that is slightly lower (0.3%) than the number of fatalities reported in 2021, it's a 9.7% increase from 2020. That makes the last two years some of the deadliest years for drivers in recent history, reversing what had been a downward trend in driving-related deaths. The alarming death toll exists despite manufacturers continuing to add increasingly advanced safety features to cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Stacker used the Federal Highway Administration's 2020 Highway Statistics Report to rank states by fatalities per billion miles traveled, and to compare each to national averages.
Read on to discover the most dangerous states to drive in.
#51. Massachusetts
- Total fatalities: 6.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (7.0 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 6.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.6 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 10.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (7.8 less than the national average)
#50. Minnesota
- Total fatalities: 7.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.7 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 5.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.6 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 10.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (7.3 less than the national average)
#49. New Hampshire
- Total fatalities: 8.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.7 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 6.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.6 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 11.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (6.2 less than the national average)
#48. New Jersey
- Total fatalities: 8.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.6 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 8.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.4 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 12.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.5 less than the national average)
#47. Utah
- Total fatalities: 9.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.2 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 7.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.1 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 12.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.5 less than the national average)
#46. Hawaii
- Total fatalities: 9.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.7 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 10.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.4 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 6.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (12.0 less than the national average)
#45. Rhode Island
- Total fatalities: 9.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.6 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 9.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.7 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.6 less than the national average)
#44. Connecticut
- Total fatalities: 9.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.5 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 9.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.5 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.5 less than the national average)
#43. New York
- Total fatalities: 10.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.2 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 9.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.3 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 13.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.1 less than the national average)
#42. Vermont
- Total fatalities: 10.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.0 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 7.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.3 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 11.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (6.7 less than the national average)
#41. Washington
- Total fatalities: 10.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.9 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 8.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.5 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.8 less than the national average)
#40. Wisconsin
- Total fatalities: 10.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.7 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 8.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.7 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 13.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.1 less than the national average)
#39. Maryland
- Total fatalities: 11.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.2 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.8 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 9.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (8.9 less than the national average)
#38. Virginia
- Total fatalities: 11.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.2 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 7.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.5 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 18.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.4 more than the national average)
#37. Iowa
- Total fatalities: 11.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.0 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 8.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.5 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 13.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.8 less than the national average)
#36. North Dakota
- Total fatalities: 11.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.0 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 8.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.4 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 12.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.2 less than the national average)
#35. Indiana
- Total fatalities: 11.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.7 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 7.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.1 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 18.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.7 more than the national average)
#34. Washington D.C.
- Total fatalities: 11.9 per billion miles traveled (1.5 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.9 per billion miles traveled (1.1 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: Not applicable
#33. Ohio
- Total fatalities: 11.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.4 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 10.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.7 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.0 less than the national average)
#32. Nebraska
- Total fatalities: 12.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.4 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 7.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.8 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.9 less than the national average)
#31. Alaska
- Total fatalities: 12.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.3 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 9.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.5 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.9 less than the national average)
#30. Idaho
- Total fatalities: 12.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.1 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 6.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.4 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 16.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.5 less than the national average)
#29. Michigan
- Total fatalities: 12.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.8 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.3 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.6 less than the national average)
#28. Maine
- Total fatalities: 12.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.8 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 8.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.7 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 14.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.8 less than the national average)
#27. Nevada
- Total fatalities: 12.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.8 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.5 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 17.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.7 less than the national average)
#26. Illinois
- Total fatalities: 12.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.7 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.7 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.9 less than the national average)
#25. Colorado
- Total fatalities: 12.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.6 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.7 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.5 less than the national average)
#24. California
- Total fatalities: 12.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.5 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 10.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.1 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 21.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.1 more than the national average)
#23. Pennsylvania
- Total fatalities: 12.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.5 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.2 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 16.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.1 less than the national average)
#22. Wyoming
- Total fatalities: 13.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.4 less than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 9.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.4 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 14.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.0 less than the national average)
#21. Missouri
- Total fatalities: 13.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.2 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 12.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.5 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.0 less than the national average)
#20. Alabama
- Total fatalities: 13.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.4 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 10.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.4 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 18.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.5 more than the national average)
#19. Delaware
- Total fatalities: 13.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.5 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 10.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.2 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 23.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.1 more than the national average)
#18. Georgia
- Total fatalities: 14.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.0 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.9 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 22.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.2 more than the national average)
#17. North Carolina
- Total fatalities: 14.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.1 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 10.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.5 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 22.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.0 more than the national average)
#16. South Dakota
- Total fatalities: 14.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.1 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.3 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 15.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.2 less than the national average)
#15. Texas
- Total fatalities: 14.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.5 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 12.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.7 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 21.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.8 more than the national average)
#14. Kansas
- Total fatalities: 15.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.9 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.8 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 19.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.0 more than the national average)
#13. Oklahoma
- Total fatalities: 15.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.2 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 12.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.6 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 18.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.5 more than the national average)
#12. Oregon
- Total fatalities: 15.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.4 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.2 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.4 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 23.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.9 more than the national average)
#11. Tennessee
- Total fatalities: 15.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.6 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 13.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.9 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 20.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.4 more than the national average)
#10. Florida
- Total fatalities: 16.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.6 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 13.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.3 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 21.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.9 more than the national average)
#9. Arizona
- Total fatalities: 16.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.7 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 12.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.5 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 20.9 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.8 more than the national average)
#8. West Virginia
- Total fatalities: 16.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.3 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 11.4 deaths per billion miles traveled (0.7 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 20.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.5 more than the national average)
#7. New Mexico
- Total fatalities: 16.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.4 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 19.3 deaths per billion miles traveled (8.5 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 14.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.3 less than the national average)
#6. Kentucky
- Total fatalities: 16.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.4 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 13.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.2 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 19.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.7 more than the national average)
#5. Louisiana
- Total fatalities: 17.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.7 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 15.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.3 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 20.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (2.0 more than the national average)
#4. Montana
- Total fatalities: 17.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.2 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 6.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.8 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 22.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.4 more than the national average)
#3. Arkansas
- Total fatalities: 18.8 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.4 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 6.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.2 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 12.6 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.6 less than the national average)
#2. Mississippi
- Total fatalities: 19.0 deaths per billion miles traveled (5.6 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 14.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (3.7 more than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 22.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (4.0 more than the national average)
#1. South Carolina
- Total fatalities: 19.7 deaths per billion miles traveled (6.3 more than the national average)
- Urban fatalities: 9.5 deaths per billion miles traveled (1.2 less than the national average)
- Rural fatalities: 32.1 deaths per billion miles traveled (13.9 more than the national average)
