Here’s some good news for anyone including RVers about to hit the road: Motor vehicle crashes across America are killing fewer people – especially children.
In 2018, yearly deaths from motor vehicle accidents fell by nearly 1,000 people from the previous year, and with a drop of more than 10% among children, according to 2018 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fatalities related to speeding saw an almost 6% decline. Deaths from drunk driving dropped about 4% and made up just over a quarter of traffic deaths, the lowest percentage in more than 35 years.
Those heartening statistics come even as people drive more and are part of a 40-year downward trend. Experts point to a raft of safety measures, from increased use of seat belts to vehicle improvements such as air bags and electronic stability control.
But there are some sober warnings among the numbers
Regarding motor vehicle accidents, more than 6,000 pedestrians died, the most since 1990, and motorcycle fatalities were up by almost 5%. The same was true for bicyclist deaths, which were up more than 6%, as well as an almost 1% increase for the occupants of large trucks.
For those of you who live in cities, here is a trend to keep an eye on: Over the last decade, deaths due to motor vehicle accidents in urban neighborhoods have been on the rise, and have surpassed deaths in rural areas since 2016. Among the kinds of accidents that have become deadlier in cities, pedestrian deaths were up 69%, bicycling deaths were up 48%, and motorcycle deaths were up 33%.
Reviews.com compiled a list of the most dangerous states for driving using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and from analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. There were a total of 36,560 deaths as a result of motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2018, the year these figures cover. States are ranked by 2018 fatalities per 100 million vehicle travel miles. The data was released in 2019.
The ten safest states for driving
10) Connecticut (0.93 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -56% change since 1975)
9) Wisconsin (0.89 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -73% change since 1975)
8) Washington (0.88 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -72% change since 1975)
7) Maryland (0.84 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -68% change since 1975)
6) Utah (0.81 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -76% change since 1975)
5) New York (0.76 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -79% change since 1975)
4) Rhode Island (0.74 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -62% change since 1975)
3) New Jersey (0.73 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -66% change since 1975)
2) Minnesota (0.63 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -79% change since 1975)
1) Massachusetts (0.54 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -80% change since 1975)
The ten most dangerous states for driving
10) Montana (1.43 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -72% change since 1975)
9) New Mexico (1.43 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -74% change since 1975)
8) Oklahoma (1.44 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -57% change since 1975)
7) Alaska (1.46 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -67% change since 1975)
6) Kentucky (1.46 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -58% change since 1975)
5) West Virginia (1.51 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -65% change since 1975)
4) Arizona (1.53 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -63% change since 1975)
3) Louisiana (1.53 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -67% change since 1975)
2) Mississippi (1.63 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -57% change since 1975)
1) South Carolina (1.83 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, -54% change since 1975)
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I am astonished at how much attention is given to the number of people killed using guns each year in the USA compared to how blythely we ignore almost 40,000 dead plus many more permanently maimed from car wrecks not even to consider the number killed by tobacco use in the name of freedom and liberty.
There is a tremendous potential to save thousands of lives with self driving vehicles.
We are very poor estimators of risk.
Yeah, I’m amazed by that also. I believe it has to do with the fact that THEY drive and, do NOT want restrictions placed on their activities BUT they expect law abiding firearms owners to live under laws that presume firearms owners to be guilty rather than the usual presumption of innocense.
I think something is missing here. Governor DeSantis just called a special legislative session addressing the high insurance rates (most expensive in the nation along with Louisiana). Obviously the insurance companies seem to agree with my observations. I still think Florida and California are the home of the worst drivers in the nation and in Florida, there is no enforcement of traffic laws.
You got that right, we just moved to FL from TN, my insurance increased times 4, going from $789/year to $3400/year. Along with everything else registration on my truck in TN $29/year, FL $383/year, total for 2 drivers license, 2 registrations, $729.11. The lady at the tax commissioner’s office said, but we don’t have any income tax, I said neither does TN. Lol
Clearly the authors of this bit have relied on one statistic (deaths) and have no hands on experience. The number of accidents has been rising in every state and just getting maimed can be considered dangerous. Based on my experience the most dangerous states and worst drivers are Texas (violent driving habits); California (entitled narcissists); Illinois; NJ (diverse multi-cultural stupidity). My study is based on observing driving behavior both in state and out of state. And ask the people – everyone hates the Texans and Californians when they come to town.
And South Dakotans are still the friendliest and most courteous in my experience.
Just another quick update I failed to put in my comments. The increase in deaths is the largest single year increase since 1924! Please drive safely.
Thought you might like to know the latest figures. According to the latest National figures 42,060 people lost their lives in 2020 vehicle mishaps. Out of that number, almost 7600 were pedestrians. All of this in a year in which there was much less driving due to COVID. Pedestrians deaths are increasing because of more distractions, one of those being cell phones in the hands of both drivers and pedestrians. Thankfully the auto industry keeps making cars safer, or we would still be killing 50,000 like we did in 1980. Hey people! Pay attention. One more thing. Would you grownups try to be a good role model for our kids? Automobiles are the number one killer of teens from 15-19 in America. I would like to tell the kids in my Driver Education Classes that you are all going to do better.
Bring back the Pinto…!!!
Sorry but this article is outdated and does not reflect all the newbie (inexperienced) RV’s out there!
That’s a classic example of how statistics can give a deceiving impression. The “worst” state is more than three times as “bad” as the best? Sure . . . and yet even in the worst, the numbers are incredibly low.
Having lived in Mississippi for several years, I am not surprised. This has got to be one of the worst States for the condition of the motor vehicles on the road. I once saw a car, travelling at speed, with three of the four tires being the lousy “spare tires.”
The roads in Mississippi are also the worst.
The article is more aptly named “the 10 Deadliest States…” At any rate, your “deadliest” state, SC, has reduced fatalities by 54% since 1975. Hardly something to be ashamed of.
Seeing New Mexico in the top 10 worse drivers listing doesn’t surprise me. We are consistently in the “top 10 worst” in almost any list, be it education or auto thefts, or….
Most dangerous state? The state of intoxication.
Being serious, speed kills. The odds of a fatality occurring zoom up for anyone exceeding 80 mph. Given today’s higher speed limits which are often near or at 80 mph, more people will die as a result.
Population control
Years ago, make that decades ago, my friends and I were young and bullet proof and laughed about the near misses we had while driving drunk. As we got older we matured and realized we were risking others health and lives, not just our own, driving drunk. Now, when we get together, if we drink, we stay put. I have absolutely ZERO tolerance for impaired drivers, and I wish more judges would feel the same way.