The most (& least) dangerous states for drivers in America

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Hanna Horvath, CFP®Managing Editor & Certified Financial Planner™Hanna Horvath, CFP®, is a certified financial planner and former managing editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in NBC News, Business Insider, Inc. Magazine, CNBC, Best Company, and HerMoney.

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Driving is one of the easiest ways to get from point A to B (except, maybe, if you live in New York City). Driving is also one of the most dangerous things a person does every day. Though new safety features in cars have made them safer than ever, vehicle accidents are still one of the leading causes of death among adults. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 37,461 Americans died in 2016 in vehicle crashes.

We looked into national data to learn which states were most dangerous for drivers. The NHTSA calculates fatality rates using the number of vehicle miles traveled, providing a way to look at how dangerous a state is relative to how much people there drive. Here are the 10 most (& least) dangerous states by death rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled according to 2016 NHTSA data.

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Most dangerous states for drivers

10. Idaho

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.47 Fatalities in 2016: 253

9. Florida

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.47 Fatalities in 2016: 3,174

8. Alabama

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.5 Fatalities in 2016: 1,038

7. Montana

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.51 Fatalities in 2016: 190

6. Arkansas

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.52 Fatalities in 2016: 545

5. Louisiana

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.54 Fatalities in 2016: 757

4. Alaska

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.6 Fatalities in 2016: 84

3. Mississippi

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.69 Fatalities in 2016: 690

2. Kentucky

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.69 Fatalities in 2016: 834

1. South Carolina

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.86 Fatalities in 2016: 1,015

Safest states for drivers

10. Utah

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.89 Fatalities in 2016: 281

9. Washington

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.88 Fatalities in 2016: 537

8. Maryland

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.85 Fatalities in 2016: 505

7. Vermont

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.84 Fatalities in 2016: 62

6. New York

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.83 Fatalities in 2016: 1,025

5. New Jersey

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.78 Fatalities in 2016: 601

4. District of Columbia

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.75 Fatalities in 2016: 27

3. Minnesota

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.66 Fatalities in 2016: 392

2. Rhode Island

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.64 Fatalities in 2016: 51

1. Massachusetts

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 0.63 Fatalities in 2016: 389

One way to protect yourself and your vehicle while driving is to get car insurance. Though it doesn’t prevent you from getting hurt in an accident, it guards you from expenses incurred if you hurt someone or damage their property with your car. Car insurance is required in almost every state. You can compare car insurance plans with Policygenius here.

Prefer two wheels to four? Check out the most dangerous states in America for cyclists.

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