Which States Have Safest Roads in 2026?

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Article courtesy of the Law Offices of James A. Welcome.

Start 2026 informed: routine ‘going straight’ deadlier than complex maneuvers nationwide!

• A new study reveals which states had the highest and lowest rates of drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023, and the riskiest driving maneuvers that frequently lead to accidents.
• Mississippi had the highest rate of fatal crashes, with 32.39 drivers in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually, while Massachusetts had the least, with 7.38 drivers in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents.
• “Going straight” is the most common pre-crash movement across all states, followed by “negotiating a curve”. 

A new analysis by the Law Offices of James A. Welcome has identified the states with the highest and lowest rates of drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023, as well as the driving maneuvers that frequently precede accidents in the U.S.

States with the highest rates of drivers involved in fatal crashes (2019-2023)

According to the data, Mississippi ranked highest among all states, with 32.39 drivers involved in fatal crashes annually per 100,000 residents between 2019 and 2023. This rate is more than four times higher than the lowest-ranked state. Mississippi drivers were most commonly involved in crashes while “going straight,” with 2,591 such incidents recorded during the study period.

Wyoming took second place with 28.52 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. Despite having the nation’s lowest population at just 584,057, the state recorded 833 drivers involved in fatal crashes over the five years. Like most states, the primary pre-crash movement was “going straight” (219 cases), followed by “negotiating a curve” (150 cases).

New Mexico ranked third with a rate of 28.42 fatal crash-involved drivers per 100,000 residents annually. The state recorded 3,005 drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023, with 1,852 of these drivers “going straight” before the collision occurred. This southwestern state’s rural highways and high-speed limits may contribute to its high ranking.

South Carolina placed fourth with 28.10 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. The state recorded 7,550 drivers involved in fatal crashes during the study period, with 646 of them “going straight” before the crash. South Carolina has consistently ranked among states with high traffic fatality rates in previous studies.

Arkansas rounded out the top five with 27.86 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. The state recorded 4,274 drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023, with 16,528 of these drivers “going straight” before the collision, followed by 2,732 who were “turning left.”

States with the lowest rates of drivers involved in fatal crashes (2019-2023)

Massachusetts recorded the lowest rate with just 7.38 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. Despite having a population of over 7 million, the state saw only 2,583 drivers involved in fatal crashes during the five years. Like other states, most drivers were “going straight” (3,191 cases) before crashes occurred.

New York had the second-lowest rate with 7.53 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. With the fourth-largest state population at nearly 19.6 million, New York recorded 7,364 drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023. The state’s extensive public transportation options and lower speeds in dense urban areas likely contribute to its lower ranking.

Rhode Island, the smallest state by land area, ranked third-lowest with 7.61 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. The state recorded just 417 drivers involved in fatal crashes during the study period, with 1,033 of them “going straight” before the collision occurred.

Hawaii had the fourth-lowest rate with 9.32 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. The island state recorded 669 drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023. Hawaii’s limited highway system and generally lower speeds may contribute to its lower fatality rates.

New Jersey ranked fifth among the states with the lowest rates, recording 9.56 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. Despite having a population of over 9.29 million, the state saw 4,442 drivers involved in fatal crashes during the five years. New Jersey’s dense road network, strict traffic enforcement, and proximity to major urban centers with public transportation options likely contribute to its lower rates.

The analysis revealed several interesting patterns beyond the rankings. Across all states, “going straight” was consistently the most common pre-crash movement, followed by “negotiating a curve” in most states. This suggests that most fatal crashes occur during what would typically be considered normal driving conditions, rather than during complex maneuvers.

“The data clearly shows regional patterns in crash fatality rates, with southern and western states generally experiencing higher rates than northeastern states,” said an expert at the Law Offices of James A. Welcome. “What’s particularly surprising is that the large majority of fatal crashes occur during routine driving situations like going straight or negotiating curves, rather than during more complex maneuvers.”

“This suggests that factors like speed, road conditions, and driver attention play significant roles in crash outcomes. Drivers should remain vigilant even during seemingly straightforward driving situations, as these account for the majority of fatal crashes nationwide,” the spokesperson added.

The study also found that states with higher population densities and more developed public transportation systems generally had lower rates of drivers involved in fatal crashes. The five states with the lowest rates are all located in the Northeast, where population density is higher and public transportation is more available.

Methodology

This study analyzes data from the NHTSA to determine which type of vehicle movement is associated with the most accidents in each state.

Source:

https://cdan.dot.gov/query

Complete rankings: Drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents (2019-2023)