The Best and Worst Drivers by State

Driving involves a lot of trust in yourself and others on the road. However, not all states boast the safest drivers.

Using QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data, we’ll look at where drivers steer toward safety and where they hit the brakes on responsible road behavior. Additionally, learn more about how driving infractions affect your auto insurance.

Key findings

• Rhode Island recorded the most driving incidents per 1,000 drivers — just ahead of Maine. From Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023, Rhode Island had 51.33 driving incidents (accidents, DUIs, speeding-related incidents and citations) per 1,000 drivers. Maine came in a close second (50.05), followed by California (40.37). The states with the fewest driving incidents per 1,000 drivers were Michigan (11.28), Arkansas (12.81) and Vermont (14.87).
• Massachusetts and Rhode Island were the only states with more than 30.00 accidents per 1,000 drivers in the period analyzed. Massachusetts (38.82) and Rhode Island (33.15) were joined by California (29.18) in the top three. Conversely, Michigan (5.95), Arkansas (7.54) and Oklahoma (8.42) had the lowest accident rates per 1,000 drivers.
• California and North Carolina were the only states with DUI rates higher than 3.00 per 1,000 drivers. California ranked first, with 3.45 DUIs per 1,000 drivers from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023. It was followed by North Carolina (3.22) and North Dakota (2.83). The states with the lowest DUI rates per 1,000 drivers were Oklahoma (0.46), Louisiana (0.47), and Delaware and Connecticut (tied at 0.63).
• Speeding incident rates were the highest in Montana by a wide margin. Montana had 5.86 speeding-related incidents per 1,000 drivers in the period analyzed — far ahead of Oregon (5.09) and Iowa (4.99), the next highest ranking states. The states with the fewest speeding-related incidents per 1,000 drivers were Rhode Island (0.95), Massachusetts (1.12) and the District of Columbia (1.19).
• North Dakota had the highest rate of citations in the period analyzed. Among the states with available data in this category, North Dakota ranked first with 14.82 citations (which include improper passing, failure to yield and more but not accidents, DUIs and speeding) per 1,000 drivers in the state. It’s followed by the District of Columbia (13.56) and Virginia (10.39). Meanwhile, Kentucky (3.63), West Virginia (3.77) and New Hampshire (3.81) had the fewest citations.

Rhode Island had the highest driving incident rate

Rhode Island had the highest driving incident rate — 51.33 per 1,000 drivers — from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023, according to our analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data. Driving incidents are:

• Accidents
• DUIs
• Speeding-related incidents
• Citations

One reason Rhode Island drivers may struggle on the road? It may not always be their fault.

A 2023 Consumer Affairs study found Rhode Island had the second worst roads. According to the study, 75% of Rhode Island’s major roads are poor or mediocre. (It’s no surprise that the state’s residents are among the most interested in potholes.)

States with the highest driving incident rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

LendingTree auto insurance expert and licensed insurance agent Rob Bhatt says drivers who violate traffic laws impact more than just their insurance rates.

“Insurance companies increase their rates for all drivers in a particular state when a state’s accident and car theft rates go up,” he says. “Increases in accidents and car thefts cost insurance companies money because they have to pay to repair or replace more vehicles. When an insurance company’s costs go up, they try to recoup them through higher rates. Unfortunately, recent supply chain issues and inflation have increased insurance companies’ costs in a lot of places, including states where accident rates have stayed flat. This has contributed to rising insurance rates for a lot of drivers, including those with clean records. We’ll hopefully see prices stabilize soon.”

Maine came in a close second, with 50.05 incidents per 1,000 drivers. That’s a dramatic change from last year’s study, where Maine was among the 10 best states for drivers. California rounded out the top three, with 40.37 driving incidents.

Full rankings

States with the highest/lowest driving incident rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

2 states had more than 30.00 accidents per 1,000 drivers

Diving into each incident type, just two states had more than 30.00 accidents per 1,000 drivers — Massachusetts (38.82) and Rhode Island (33.15).

This comes as auto fatalities in Massachusetts continue to rise. According to preliminary data from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, there were 434 deaths involving vehicles in 2022 — the most since at least 2015.

California, the next highest ranking state, fell just short of 30.00 accidents, at 29.18 per 1,000 drivers.

States with the highest accident rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

Of course, not all accidents are avoidable — no matter how well you drive. According to Bhatt, it’s important to drive defensively, especially if you live in a state with a high accident rate.

“You have to account for unsafe drivers and be ready to avoid them,” he says. “This includes scanning your mirrors so you can safely get out of the way of a speeding car and making sure an intersection is clear before you enter it. Speeding and impairment have perennially been the leading causes of the most severe accidents for several years, and distracted driving has joined them as a leading cause in more recent years. Avoiding all three of these behaviors when you drive can greatly reduce your chances of being involved in an accident, or at least causing an accident.”

Meanwhile, Michigan and Arkansas made the list of states with the lowest accident rates, at 5.95 and 7.54, respectively. Oklahoma joined them in the bottom three, with 8.42 accidents per 1,000 drivers.

Full rankings

States with the highest/lowest accident rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

California had 3.45 DUIs per 1,000 drivers

From Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023, California and North Carolina were the only states with DUI rates higher than 3.00 per 1,000 drivers. Our data revealed California had 3.45 DUIs per 1,000 drivers.

Not far behind California, North Carolina had 3.22 DUIs per 1,000 drivers. North Dakota (2.83) rounded out the top three.

States with the highest DUI rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

On the other hand, Oklahoma had the lowest DUI rate per 1,000 drivers, at just 0.46. Louisiana (0.47) followed, while Delaware and Connecticut tied for third at 0.63.

Full rankings

States with the highest/lowest DUI rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

Speeding incident rates in Montana were significantly higher than in any other state

Looking at speeding-related incident rates, Montana ranked first — and it wasn’t even close. In the period analyzed, Montana had 5.86 speeding-related incidents per 1,000 drivers. For comparison, Oregon and Iowa ranked next, at 5.09 and 4.99, respectively.

Some geographical (and historical) factors could play a role here. Montana was one of the last states to institute a speed limit — even then, it was set federally in 1974 — and the state’s largely rural nature means many drivers may be tempted to speed along long, empty stretches of road.

States with the highest speeding-related incident rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

The financial consequences of a speeding ticket can be severe — particularly when it comes to your insurance.

“In most states, you’re likely to see your insurance rates rise by 10% to 20%, depending on your insurance company and the severity of the offense,” Bhatt says. “For insurance purposes, a ticket usually comes off your record after three years, though some companies count one against you for up to five years. Several states allow you to go to traffic school to keep a speeding ticket off your record, and this is a relatively easy way to keep your insurance rates low.”

On the other end of the list, Rhode Island (0.95) had the fewest speeding-related incidents per 1,000 drivers. It’s followed by Massachusetts (1.12) and the District of Columbia (1.19).

Full rankings

States with the highest/lowest speeding-related incident rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

North Dakota ranked first for citations

When it comes to citations, North Dakota ranked first. While citation data wasn’t available in every state (four were missing), North Dakota had 14.82 citations per 1,000 drivers. This includes infraction like improper passing, failure to yield and more but not accidents, DUIs and speeding. (See the methodology for more.)

The District of Columbia (13.56) and Virginia (10.39) ranked next.

States with the highest citation rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

Bhatt says the consequences of a citation vary by type.

Meanwhile, Kentucky had the fewest citations, at 3.63 per 1,000 drivers. It’s followed by West Virginia (3.77) and New Hampshire (3.81).

Full rankings

States with the highest/lowest citation rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quote data from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023. Note: Alaska, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Wyoming didn’t have citation data available.

Involved in an incident? Top tips to lower your insurance rates

While receiving a ticket or citation can be frustrating (and often comes with long-term consequences), your insurance rates won’t stay high forever.

“The most important things you can do after you get a blemish on your driving record are to take a deep breath and be patient,” Bhatt says. “Yes, you’re going to have to pay more for car insurance after a ticket or accident, which will be a financial burden. However, as long as you can avoid tickets and accidents in the future, your rates will come back down again. Be more careful when you drive.”

In the meantime, here’s what else you can do:

• Understand when your insurance company will raise your rates. “Your existing rate remains in effect until your current policy term expires,” Bhatt says. “You don’t have to switch companies right away, but you should be prepared to start shopping soon. Your current insurance company usually informs you of a rate increase when it’s time to renew your policy, which is usually about four to six weeks before your current policy term ends.”
• Once you see your new rates, start shopping around. Insurance companies provide quotes for free upon request. This is a great way to see if a different company can give you a lower rate than your current company.
• Know that the impact a ticket or accident has on your car insurance rate varies by company. “Some companies are more forgiving of tickets or accidents than others,” Bhatt says. “Your rates will still go up, but the increase may be smaller with a different company than with your current carrier.”
• Consider changing your coverage type. “In addition to shopping around, you can also lower your car insurance rates by increasing the deductibles for your collision and comprehensive coverages if you have them,” he says. “If you have an older car with a potentially low resale value, consider removing the comprehensive and collision coverage altogether.”
• Reducing your liability limits isn’t recommended. “You should refrain from reducing your limits for uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it, because this is also an important coverage you don’t want to skimp on,” he says. “Plus, cutting back on uninsured motorist coverage usually doesn’t save you much money.”

Methodology

Researchers analyzed tens of millions of QuoteWizard by LendingTree insurance quotes from Oct. 26, 2022, through Oct. 26, 2023.

To determine the best and worst drivers by state, researchers calculated the number of driving incidents per 1,000 drivers in every state. This main category included accidents, DUIs, speeding-related incidents and citations.

We looked at the four categories combined and individually. Our individual analyses don’t add to the driving incident total because of drivers with multiple incidents.

The categories that fell under citations included:

• Carelessness or recklessness
• Improper lane usage, improper passing and improper turning
• No insurance or no license to operate a vehicle or misrepresenting a license
• Failure to yield to a car or pedestrian
• Safety violations, following another vehicle closely and passing a bus
• Not signaling
• Hit-and-runs involving a bicycle or pedestrian
• Having defective equipment or using the wrong road
• Comprehensive or other citations