IN OTHER NEWS – In a new study analyzing fatal road accident causes, Georgia ranks in the top five states with the most responsible drivers.
Release:
- Mississippi has been named the state with the most responsible drivers, according to a new study analyzing the causes of fatal road accidents
- Florida takes second place – while Nebraska, Georgia, and Tennessee round out the top five
- The findings follow a new analysis of traffic data reported by the NHTSA over a five-year period
A new study of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed that Mississippi has the most responsible drivers in the US.
The research conducted by personal injury attorneys Injured in Florida analyzed road traffic accident data from 2017-2021 relating to four key scenarios, which have been recorded as contributing factors resulting in fatal accidents. The factors considered as displaying ‘irresponsibility’ on behalf of the driver are a distracted driver, a drowsy driver, speeding or hit-and-run.
These recorded events were compared to the number of fatal road accidents, which did not involve any of the factors, to find the states with the lowest rate of accidents attributed to irresponsibility and, therefore, the most responsible drivers.
Mississippi is the state with the most responsible drivers, according to the data. In the period studied, the state experienced a total of 3,167 fatal road accidents, but only 638 recorded one of the considered contributing factors. This accounts for only 20.15% of all accidents reported – the lowest in the US and less than half the US average of 44.82%.
According to the study, Florida has the second most responsible drivers in America, with 25.47% of fatal road accidents reported to have involved an identified contributing factor. This percentage equates to 3,907 out of a total of 15,342 fatal accidents in the state.
Nebraska has the third most responsible drivers, as identified by the study. Over the five-year period, the state experienced 1,032 fatal traffic accidents in total, and the number of recorded incidences of distracted drivers, drowsy drivers, speeding or hit-and-run remained low at 263, or 25.48% overall.
Fourth is Georgia, with 28.38% of fatal road accidents having been reported to have involved one of the four contributing factors. This equates to 2,104 out of 7,413 total fatal accidents in the state.
Rounding out the top five states with the most responsible drivers is Tennessee, as the state reported 1,521 fatal accidents over the five years analyzed. This accounts for 28.68% of the total 5,304 fatal accidents in the state.
The states with the most responsible drivers
Rank State Fatal Crashes Involving a Distracted Driver / Drowsy Driver / Speeding / Hit-and-Run Not Involving a Contributing Factor Total Percentage of Fatal Crashes that Involving a Contributing Factor 1 Mississippi 638 2,529 3,167 20.15% 2 Florida 3,907 11,435 15,342 25.47% 3 Nebraska 263 769 1,032 25.48% 4 Georgia 2,104 5,309 7,413 28.38% 5 Tennessee 1,521 3,783 5,304 28.68% 6 Iowa 453 1,091 1,544 29.34% 7 Arkansas 831 1,833 2,664 31.19% 8 South Dakota 200 372 572 34.97% 9 Indiana 1,443 2,601 4,044 35.68% 10 Oklahoma 1,160 1,921 3,081 37.65%
In contrast, the data revealed that New Mexico is the state with the least responsible drivers, with the highest rate of fatal traffic accidents in the nation, involving one of the four identified contributing factors.
The study found that an overwhelming 84.62% of the 1,853 fatal road accidents in New Mexico involve either a distracted driver, drowsy driver, speeding or hit-and-run – this is almost twice the US average.
Following closely behind is Hawaii, which experienced 483 fatal car accidents over the five years. Of these, 387, or 80.12%, were recorded to have involved one of the four identified factors.
The study found Illinois rank with the third least responsible drivers as the percentage of fatal accidents caused by an ‘irresponsible’ contributing factor remained high at 60.47% – or 3,134 of 5,183 of total fatal accidents.
Washington follows with 58.90% or 1,578 out of 2,679, and Alaska takes the fifth spot, with 56.92% of the 318 fatal road accidents between 2017 and 2021 involving one of the four contributing factors analyzed in the study.
The states with the least responsible drivers
Rank State Fatal Crashes Involving a Distracted Driver / Drowsy Driver / Speeding / Hit-and-Run Not Involving a Contributing Factor Total Percentage of Fatal Crashes that Involving a Contributing Factor 1 New Mexico 1,568 285 1,853 84.62% 2 Hawaii 387 96 483 80.12% 3 Illinois 3,134 2,049 5,183 60.47% 4 Washington 1,578 1,101 2,679 58.90% 5 Alaska 181 137 318 56.92% 6 Rhode Island 177 136 313 56.55% 7 Colorado 1,623 1,322 2,945 55.11% 8 Wyoming 293 248 541 54.16% 9 South Carolina 2,648 2,249 4,897 54.07% 10 Missouri 2,357 2,020 4,377 53.85%
A spokesperson for Injured in Florida commented on the findings:
“Some car accidents can be unavoidable; however, the study highlights that a number of scenarios contribute to road accidents that could be prevented. Drivers must remember that they have a responsibility to drive with care and full attention whilst adhering strictly to driving laws.
“When behind the wheel, drivers must ensure they are fully alert and aware of their surroundings, maintaining a legal and suitable speed for the road type to deter increasing the chances of an unfortunate accident to occur. This should be maintained at all times, including at night or when roads are quiet, when the risk that drivers become complacent may increase.”
