America’s Safest and Most Dangerous Driving States Revealed

South Carolina and Montana Lead the Nation in Risk, While Florida and New York Record Lowest Crash Rates

A new study from Whitley Law Firm has revealed the stark contrast between America’s most dangerous and safest driving states, with South Carolina and Montana leading the nation in high-risk driving behaviors while Florida and New York recorded the lowest crash involvement rates.

The report, based on an analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 2018 to 2022, ranked states according to the number of speeding vehicles and drunk drivers involved in crashes per 100,000 residents.

The findings highlight how state-by-state variations in driver culture, enforcement, and infrastructure contribute to significant differences in road safety outcomes.

The Riskiest States

South Carolina ranked first in the country for speeding-related crashes, with 7.74 speeding vehicles involved per 100,000 residents. That figure places it well ahead of the national average and nearly six times higher than Florida, which recorded the lowest rate.

Wyoming (7.25), New Mexico (6.75), Montana (5.82), and Missouri (5.53) rounded out the top five for speeding.

Montana, meanwhile, ranked first in drunk driving incidents with 7.60 drunk drivers per 100,000 residents. South Carolina followed with 6.61, Louisiana reported 6.44, New Mexico had 6.27, and Wyoming posted 5.79.

Montana also reported the highest proportion of drunk drivers in crashes, with more than 35% of all collisions involving alcohol.

“These states are facing dual challenges that create dangerous road environments,” a Whitley Law Firm spokesperson said. “Speeding and drunk driving are preventable behaviors, yet they account for an outsized share of crashes in several regions of the country.”

The Safest States

At the other end of the spectrum, the study identified states where drivers are far less likely to encounter dangerous behaviors on the road.

• Florida recorded the lowest rate of speeding vehicles, at just 1.29 per 100,000 residents.

• New Jersey (1.41), Massachusetts (1.42), New York (1.60), and Nebraska (1.75) completed the top five safest states for speeding-related crashes.

For drunk driving, New York was the safest state, with only 1.33 drunk drivers involved in crashes per 100,000 residents. The District of Columbia (1.57), Massachusetts (1.81), Utah (1.93), and Pennsylvania (1.94) followed.

A total of five states — New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Utah — ranked in the bottom 10 for both speeding and drunk driving, reinforcing their reputations as some of the safest places to drive.

A Nation of Contrasts

The study emphasizes just how wide the gap is between high- and low-risk states. For example, drivers in South Carolina are nearly six times more likely to be involved in a speeding-related crash than those in Florida. Similarly, a driver in Montana faces more than five times the risk of encountering a drunk driver in a crash compared to New York.

These disparities highlight the role of regional factors. Southern states like South Carolina and Louisiana, along with rural Western states like Montana and Wyoming, consistently appear at the top of the danger rankings. In contrast, Northeastern states — with denser urban centers, stronger enforcement practices, and greater access to public transportation — dominate the list of safest states.

Lessons from Safer States

The findings suggest that states with lower crash involvement rates may provide useful lessons for others struggling with dangerous driving behaviors. Policies such as stricter DUI enforcement, targeted public education campaigns, and infrastructure investments could help reduce risks in higher-ranking states.

“States with lower rates of speeding and drunk driving crashes show that progress is possible,” the Whitley Law Firm spokesperson noted. “Communities that invest in prevention, enforcement, and education are seeing results, and those lessons can be applied elsewhere.”

A Preventable Problem

The report underscores the preventable nature of both speeding- and alcohol-related crashes. While road design and enforcement play roles, much of the responsibility lies with drivers themselves.

“Every crash involving speeding or impaired driving is avoidable,” the spokesperson added. “Choosing to slow down or arranging a sober ride home can be the difference between life and death.”

Methodology

The Whitley Law Firm analysis relied on FARS data spanning 2018–2022. Researchers calculated per-capita rates by averaging the annual number of speeding vehicles and drunk drivers involved in crashes and dividing by state population. Each state was then ranked from highest to lowest.

Conclusion

The results reveal two very different driving cultures across the nation. In states like South Carolina and Montana, where speeding and impaired driving are alarmingly common, drivers face elevated risks on the road. In places like Florida, New York, and Massachusetts, strong enforcement and safer driver habits have created far less hazardous conditions.

For drivers and policymakers alike, the study serves as a reminder that safety is not a given — it is the result of choices, policies, and culture. By looking to the safest states as models, America’s most dangerous driving regions may find a path toward safer roads.