Most drivers have their idea of what a bad driver is. Whether it’s speeding, veering in and out of traffic, tailgating, or texting while driving, you’ve probably seen some pretty bad drivers, but which states have the worst drivers? Let’s find out!
How Are the Worst Drivers Determined?
Bad drivers can be categorized in many different ways for different reasons, such as:
- Drunk driving
- Auto accidents that involved a distracted driver
- Fatal auto accidents that involved a drowsy driver
- Fatal auto accidents involving a driver who was driving the wrong way down a one-street or on the wrong side of the road
- Fatal auto accidents that involved a driver who failed to obey traffic signs, use traffic signals, or a traffic officer
- Drivers who looked at their phone per mile
The bottom line is all states have their share of bad drivers. However, some states may have more bad drivers than others, so let’s take a look!
Which States Have the Worst Drivers?
Let’s take a look at 10 states that have the worst drivers.
1. Mississippi
Did you know that Mississippi maintained the title (for 3 years) of having the worst-ever drivers in the U.S.? Aside from the high number of uninsured drivers, the Magnolia State has the second-highest fatalities for vehicle miles traveled per 100 million, totaling a rate of 1.63.
2. Alabama
The Yellowhammer State also made the list. This state has a total of 81.60% of drivers who do not have auto insurance. Alabama has a high rate of fatalities making it the 6th highest rate among all 50 states with over 1.54 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles driven.
3. California
California makes the list of worst drivers due to its high rank in traffic violations and uninsured motorists. The Golden State comes in 6th with the highest online search rate of speeding and traffic ticket violations, which means residents in this state are looking for ways to get out of a ticket or determine which penalties apply to them!
California also ranks 12th for the lowest rate of insured drivers, which makes CA roads one of the riskiest places to drive. This state comes in at number 15 for the most drivers issued DUIs.
4. Nevada
Nevada comes in hot at number 4 for the worst drivers in the U.S. due to their high rate of DUI accidents of 5.54 per 1,000 drivers. Nevada also has the highest rate of online searches for traffic-related tickets, beating California.
5. Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas, including its share of bad drivers. Texas made the list of worst drivers due to having a mid-level DUI rate. When it comes to DUIs, the Lone Star State has a rate of 3.79 per 1,000 drivers.
6. Florida
As of 2020, Florida had a population of 21.54 million people, so we expected to see quite a few traffic violations. In Florida, there are a lot of uninsured motorists. As a whole, in 2022, Florida had over 2,000,000 traffic citations.
7. Arizona
Although Arizona drivers are responsible when it comes to maintaining auto insurance on their vehicles, we can’t say the same for their extremely high numbers when it comes to driving under the influence (DUI). In total, Arizona has a rate of 4.69 DUI incidents per 1,000 drivers, which resulted in 1.45 fatalities per 100 million miles driven.
8. Alaska
When most people think about Alaska, they think about a lot of snow and not too many vehicles on the road. However, Alaska isn’t all snow and ice, and this state has a total of 5.80 DUI incidents per 1,000 drivers. Alaska also has a high rate of fatalities, totaling 1.60 per 100 million miles driven.
9. Tennessee
In Tennessee, only 80% of drivers are insured, which may not seem too bad, but compared to similar states, these statistics aren’t great. Tennessee has a DUI rate that equals 3.63 situations per 1,000 drivers. Of these DUI incidents, 1.35 of 100 million vehicle miles driven resulted in fatalities.
10.Missouri
Missouri also makes the list. Although 86% of Missouri residents have auto insurance, they still place 16th on the list for auto insurance coverage in the nation. Similar to a lot of other states, Missouri has a high rate of DUIs. The Show Me State had 4.30 DUI incidents per 1,000 drivers, with 1.28 per 100 million vehicle miles driven resulting in fatalities.
What Driving Behaviors Increase Risks On the Road?
Many drivers forget that driving is a privilege, not a right. Driving is a major responsibility because you’re responsible for your life, the lives of your passengers, and other drivers on the road. Here are different dangerous driving behaviors you’ll need to avoid.
Speeding
Speeding is dangerous because it makes it harder to maintain control of your vehicle. Reaching high speeds, whether you’re on a standard road or the highway, is a danger and a risk to everyone on the road. Unfortunately, speeding is a common traffic violation that killed almost 10,000 people in 2019.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence (DUI) means operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other substances. However, DUIs shouldn’t be confused with DWIs. Although DUIs and DWIs are similar, they are two separate instances.
DUIs refer to operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs while DWIs can be operating a motor vehicle while impaired or intoxicated. The term that is used depends on the jurisdiction where you received the violation. In general, DUI offenses are often a lesser offense when compared to a DWI.
Driving While Impaired
The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) states that more than 10,000 fatalities occur each year in the US due to drunk driving. Consuming alcohol impairs your judgment, reasoning abilities, and muscle coordination.
Driving While Distracted
In 2020, there were over 35,000 fatalities due to distracted driving. In 2021, the number of fatalities caused by distracted driving increased to more than 40,000. Taking your eyes off the road for 5 seconds may seem like a short time but in these 5 seconds, your life and the life of others on the road can change forever. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that if you’re traveling at 55 mph and take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds, this is the equivalent of traveling the length of a football field with your eyes closed!
Driving While Drowsy
When your body is tired, this is your sign that you need to rest. Whether you’re sleepy or tired, you shouldn’t drive. Your body is going to ensure it gets the rest it needs whether you want to sleep or not, which is how many drivers end up falling asleep at the wheel. When you’re operating a motor vehicle, you need to be alert and aware of your surroundings.
Driving Without Your Seatbelt
Most cars have an alert system that sounds when you don’t fasten your seatbelt. However, a lot of drivers ignore the alert. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that approximately 26,000 individuals died in auto crashes in 2021. Of the 26,000 individuals, over half of these individuals ranged between 13 and 19 years of age, and were not wearing their seatbelt.
How to Stay Safe on the Road
All states have their share of terrible drivers. One of the best things you can do is be a responsible driver. Here are different tips that can help you stay safe while traveling.
Adjust Your Seating
When was the last time you adjusted the driver’s seat in your vehicle? When you’re driving, make sure you can sit comfortably while remaining alert and aware of your surroundings. It’s easy to not recognize bad habits, especially when you don’t know that they’re bad habits. You must sit up straight with your back against the seat so you have a good view of traffic and your car’s mirrors. You shouldn’t sit in an awkward position that forces you to slump over the steering wheel or makes the pedals difficult to reach.
Stop Multitasking While Driving
A lot of drivers are under the impression that they can do more than one thing while driving because they have been driving for years. This is not the case. It only takes a few seconds of distracted driving to cause an accident. You should never text and drive or try to operate your phone while driving. If you need to use GPS, set the destination location before you get in the car and use voice turn-by-turn directions so you don’t have to continuously look at your phone.
Get Familiar With Your Vehicle
Car technology has advanced over the years and although this technology can be beneficial, you have to know how to use it before it can benefit you. If you’re upgrading from an older model vehicle, take time to learn where the car’s functions are. The car owner’s manual can help a lot.
Perform a Safety Check
When you’re learning to drive, you’re setting habits you will use forever, so make sure they’re good habits! Performing a safety check means you check to make sure everything is working properly before leaving your location. This means checking tire pressure and turn signals to ensure they’re working properly. If you enjoy listening to music while driving, make sure you have a playlist to prevent you from looking at your phone to change songs.
Set your phone to do not disturb or sync your phone to your car so you can interact with your phone without diverting your attention from the road. It’s also a good idea to share your location with someone you trust in case something happens, so they know where you are and assist you if you need help.
Increase Your Distance
Tailgating is bad! Traveling too close to another vehicle is considered tailgating, and it’s an aggressive driving behavior that you should avoid. Your vehicle should remain at 3 seconds away from the vehicle in front of you. A lot can happen in 3 seconds, and you need to make sure you can react appropriately in most situations, such as avoiding an accident.
To correctly use the 3-second rule, choose an upcoming object, such as a speed limit sign, overpass, or other structure. When the vehicle in front of you passes the object, start counting in thousands (one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three). If your vehicle passes the same object when you reach one thousand-three, you are positioned in a safe following distance. If not, create more space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Did your state make the list of bad drivers? Regardless of which state you reside in, there are always bad drivers on the road, so be cautious. Safe travels and happy driving!