Most dangerous states to drive in

SKT Studio // Shutterstock 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. About 39,000 people died in car accidents in the U.S. in 2020–an average of over 100 people per day. That’s more fatalities on U.S. roads than in any year since 2007, 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. You may also like: Iconic car debuts from the year you were born #51. Massachusetts A.Ruiz // Shutterstock – 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 Pixabay – 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 Winston Tan // Shutterstock – 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 mploscar // GoodFreePhotos – 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 Pasteur // Wikimedia Commons – 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) You may also like: Most popular department stores in America #46. Hawaii Anthony Quintano // Wikimedia Commons – 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 Will Hart // Flickr – 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 Pixabay – 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 Pixabay – 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 NEKVT // Shutterstock – 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) You may also like: Most popular grocery stores in America #41. Washington Pixabay – 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 David Mark // Pixabay – 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 Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – 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 Famartin // Wikimedia Commons – 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 Tony Walker // Pixabay – 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) You may also like: Marijuana violations are taking truck drivers off the road, adding more supply chain disruptions #36. North Dakota FiledIMAGE // Shutterstock – 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 Pixabay – 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. Pixabay – 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 Tanner Daniels // GoodFreePhotos – 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 Napa // Wikimedia Commons – 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) You may also like: Richest women in America #31. Alaska Pixabay – 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 Pixabay – 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 Picryl – 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 Pixabay – 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 Annica Beckman // Pixabay – 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) You may also like: States with the largest unionized workforces #26. Illinois Rudy Balasko // Shutterstock – 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 Pixabay – 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 Pixabay – 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 Pixabay – 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 Airman 1st Class Connor J. Marth // U.S. Air Force – 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) You may also like: Most rural counties in America #21. Missouri Jan Kronsell // Wikimedia Commons – 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 Formulanone // Wikimedia Commons – 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 Elvert Barnes // Flickr – 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 cate_89 // Shuttertstock – 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 Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – 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) You may also like: Famous consumer brands that no longer exist #16. South Dakota Connor 401 // Wikimedia Commons – 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 Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock – 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 Pixabay – 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 Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – 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 Oregon Department of Transportation // Flickr – 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) You may also like: 50 most popular chain restaurants in America #11. Tennessee Katherine Welles // Shutterstock – 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 FloridaStock // Shutterstock – 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 Mavrick // Shutterstock – 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 Pixabay – 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 Andriy Blokhin // Shutterstock – 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) You may also like: 15 cars that depreciated the most last year #6. Kentucky 11photo // Shutterstock – 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 Tim Roberts Photography // Shutterstock – 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 Tim Evanson // Flickr – 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 Jonathannsegal // Shutterstock – 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 Pixabay – 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) You may also like: Youngest billionaires in America #1. South Carolina f11photo // Shutterstock – 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)