New research has revealed that West Virginia is the seventh most dangerous state to be a driver.
The research by personal injury and consumer rights law firm Agruss Law Firm studied data over 10 years from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to see which states had the highest percentage of driver deaths compared to state population.
West Virginia comes in seventh place, with 102.61 driver deaths per 100,000 and 1,853 deaths in total. The fatality rate is 93% higher than the national average. Driver fatalities reached a peak in 2011 where 225 deaths occurred, and have been on a general decline year-on-year. 144 deaths happened in 2019.
The analysis revealed that between 2010 and 2019 a total of 4,052 people were killed in driving accidents in Mississippi. When compared to the state’s population, it equates to 136.7 deaths per 100,000 people in the state – the highest rate in the nation, and 157% higher than the national average.
Although Mississippi’s driver deaths only contribute 2.3% to national numbers, when comparing this to the overall state population, the rates are the highest. Driver deaths account for 63% of all traffic fatalities for Mississippi, which is the highest percentage of driver deaths in comparison to total traffic fatalities than any other state.
Wyoming is in second place, with 733 driver fatalities in the ten year period, which equates to 126.87 driver deaths per 100,000 people, 139% higher than the national average. Fatality numbers have not declined. On the other hand, 2019 saw 87 driver deaths, the highest number in the state’s history across the ten year study.
Alabama is the third most dangerous state to be a driver, with 112.77 deaths per 100,000 people, due to 5,512 fatalities from 2010-2019, which is 112% higher than the national average. Fatalities reached a high in 2016, where 620 drivers were killed. There has been a decline since, however figures in 2019 remain in line with average levels.
Rank | State | Driver deaths per 100,000 | Total driver deaths (10 years) | Population |
1 | Mississippi | 136.7 | 4,052 | 2,963,914 |
2 | Wyoming | 126.87 | 733 | 577,737 |
3 | Alabama | 112.77 | 5,512 | 4,887,871 |
4 | Montana | 108.82 | 1,156 | 1,062,305 |
5 | Arkansas | 103.89 | 3,131 | 3,013,825 |
6 | North Dakota | 103.54 | 787 | 760,077 |
7 | West Virginia | 102.61 | 1,853 | 1,805,832 |
8 | Kentucky | 96.66 | 4,319 | 4,468,402 |
9 | Oklahoma | 96.17 | 3,792 | 3,943,079 |
10 | South Carolina | 93.47 | 4,752 | 5,084,127 |
Montana is the fourth most dangerous state for drivers. With 1,156 total driver fatalities, Montana has 108.82 driver deaths per 100,000 people. The rate is 105% higher than the national average. Fatalities reached the highest level in 2015, where 134 deaths occurred. That number has since declined, where 100 deaths happened in 2019.
Arkansas ranks in fifth place, as the state has 103.89 deaths per 100,000 people due to 3,131 total driver fatalities between 2010 and 2019. The death rate for the Natural State is 95% higher than the national average. The highest number of deaths happened in 2011, with 350 fatalities that year. Year-on-year, numbers have fluctuated; 282 deaths happened in 2019.
At the other end of the scale, New York is the safest state for drivers (behind District of Columbia), after recording 22.02 deaths per 100,000 people. New York has a similar number of total fatalities in comparison to Mississippi, number one on the list. However, drivers are less likely to be killed in comparison to the percentage of its population.
North Dakota is ranked sixth most dangerous state for drivers. The Peace Garden State sees 103.54 deaths per 100,000 people, which is 95% higher than the national average. North Dakota’s driver fatalities leapt from 58 to 94 between 2010 and 2011, reaching a high of 108 deaths in 2013, however these numbers have been declining year-on-year, and has now reached 64 deaths in 2019.
Kentucky is eighth, with 96.66 driver deaths per 100,000 people and 4,319 driver deaths over the ten year study. Kentucky’s death rate is 82% higher than the national average. Fatality numbers reached a high in 2016 with 473 deaths but this has been on a decline each year since.
Oklahoma is ranked the ninth most dangerous state to be a driver, with 96.17 deaths per 100,000 people and 3,792 deaths in total. Oklahoma’s fatality rate is 81% higher than the national average. The highest number of deaths took place in 2012, with 420 deaths. 353 driver fatalities happened in 2019.
Rounding off the list at number 10 is South Carolina. The Palmetto State has a rate of 93.47 deaths per 100,000 people, which is 76% greater than the national average. The number of deaths each year in South Carolina was on a general decline until a spike in 2015, which has continued to rise to 2018. Deaths have lowered in 2019, however they remain above average levels.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from Agruss Law Firm said: “Across the United States, we’re reliant on cars to get around. It’s therefore important to understand which states you are most likely to find yourself in a fatal accident. The study reveals that most of the most dangerous states are based in the south, with Mississippi taking the spot of most dangerous state for driving, based on the rate of 136.7 deaths per 100,000 people, which is 157% higher than the United States average. Around 400 drivers are killed on average each year in Mississippi and those numbers have not declined over the course of the 10 year study.”
The research was conducted by Agruss Law Firm, an established personal injury and consumer rights law firm who puts people first.