Texas Tops Deadliest State for Driving: High Fatal Crash Rates and Alcohol-Related Deaths

In the study conducted by ConsumerAffairs using data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA), Texas was identified as the deadliest state for driving due to the high number of fatal crashes. In 2021 alone, there were 4,068 fatal crashes resulting in 4,498 deaths on Texas highways, which cover 79,000 miles. Texas also led the country with 2,175 alcohol-related fatalities, with over a third of drivers involved in fatal crashes having a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.01 or higher. California and Florida followed closely behind in terms of highest crash fatalities, predominantly caused by distracted driving. Georgia and North Carolina rounded out the top five. Separately, Mississippi was found to have one of the highest fatal crash involvement rates, particularly among young drivers. The state has a relatively low requirement for obtaining a driver’s license, as no physical driving test is necessary. Additionally, seat belt usage rates in Mississippi are the second-lowest in the country, following only Massachusetts. Despite these findings, overall, vehicle fatalities decreased by 4.5% year over year nationwide from January through September 2023. Rhode Island emerged as the safest state to drive in, with a standard BAC limit of 0.08 and harsher DUI penalties targeted at younger drivers who have a lower BAC threshold of 0.05. Experts suggest that driving hungover should be avoided as it can pose similar dangers as driving while under the influence. States with fewer annual crash fatalities generally have stricter driving standards, with New York and Massachusetts ranking second and third respectively on this metric. Vermont also scored highly due to its lower average speeds on most roads compared to national averages.