jppe

And to think the two states I ride in the most (NC & SC) are two of the top ten. Guess I better keep my insurance a lot longer.


North Carolina ranks among top 10 worst-driving states


Dawn Kurry
Staff Writer- Triangle Business Journal
Email | Twitter

North Carolina needs to pay more attention behind the wheel, according to CarInsuranceComparison.com, which ranks the Tar Heel State tied for seventh among the worst-driving states in America.

Data from 2012 was used to compile the list, which ranks states on the following metrics: Fatality rates per 100 million miles traveled, citations for failure to obey traffic signals and seat belt laws, DUI infractions, and tickets for speeding and careless driving. Data was collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Motorists Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

In 2012, MADD counted 402 drunk-driving deaths in North Carolina.

According to the list, the worst drivers in the country live in Louisiana, which also topped the list last year.

Here are the worst 10:

1. Louisiana

2. South Carolina

3. Mississippi

4. Texas

5. Alabama

6. Florida

7. Missouri

7. North Carolina (tied)

9. Montana

10. South Dakota

Dudelsack 

I'm a little surprised the Yankee states aren't more represented, given that they are always rushing around.

The traffic death rates in Kentucky have been steadily dropping, which is great. They link it to seat belt use, but I think reforms in under 21 licensure helps a lot I bet. One standard gripe in this area is that so much attention is devoted in the media for firearm deaths when teenagers doing stupid things behind the wheel take a much greater toll.

StanSeven

The data is really confusing. But much of it indicates driving faster focuses attention better so accidents actually drop compared to those driving the speed limit. One problem is identifying why drivers adhere to the speed limit, and it may be their driving abilities are impaired.

VNA

"Drivers in the U.S. are dangerous--in every states: the major problem is "UNPREDICTABILITY"
And because they are in front of you they can do anything! (control of one's speed)

In Europe SPEED is the problem and drive way too close! (but they are a lot more aware)

Yes these are generalizations with some truth to them!

Dudelsack 

Never trust generalizations.

BlazingPedals

I'm really surprised that Florida doesn't top the list.

John_V 

So am I. Living in Florida is great except for riding a bike on the roadways. I live three miles from the MUP I do my daily rides at and I drive there. The only road leading to the MUP from my house is extremely dangerous to ride a bike on, even though it has a very nice bike lane in both directions.

trackhub

I know people who have done some riding in Florida, and they all say the same thing: It's a horror show for cyclists.

jdon

Florida is the only state I have cycled in that I actually felt unsafe in. Other than that, All drivers are dangerous. Broad generalization, I know.

Bikey Mikey

Is that a modern major generalization?

Pirkaus

Massachusetts didn't make the list
Who checked this list?
pirk

bruce19

Me too. Anyone who has been on the road near Boston knows that. Generally, denser population areas are worse no matter the state.

donheff

I'm not sure how much general accident rates equate to problems for bikers. The existence of roomy shoulders and other bike friendly features is much more reassuring to me than some abstract trust in a location's drivers.

Rick@OCRR

Not surprised to see Missouri on the list since I grew up there and had lots of scary incidents with drivers there.

Since I moved to CA (in '95) things have been a lot more tranquil on the road. Still not perfect and I doubt it ever will be but much better in CA than MO.

Rick / OCRR

NOS88

Now don't start trashing those of us above the Mason-Dixon line.

Looigi

That is a generalization.

Yankeetowner

Statistics are nearly always subject to interpretation aka spin. I would bet lots more people die (and are seriously injured) in traffic accidents in the densely populated northeast than in Montana or South Dakota. However, those states and most relatively rural states have higher speed limits and more open roads where people drive faster. When speeds increase the number of people (per 100,000) who are killed in crashes increases. While Texas and Florida have high populations, Texas has lots of open roads, and in Florida we have several interstates and a turnpike with long open stretches and high speeds. As far as DUI's and traffic tickets those statistics could be interpreted/spun to show that the southern and western states are better at enforcement than the more congested northeastern states and I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't more law enforcement officers per capita in the more rural states. In any event, I doubt there is a direct correlation to biking safety. That being said, Florida drivers are much worse, on average, than anyplace else I have driven in the U.S. This is particularly true in the winter when our population increases significantly with snow birds. Folks, mostly older (like me), driving the speed limit or below in the left lane, with frustrated speeders (like me) cutting in and out of lanes to get around them. Throw in cyclists who often don't stop at traffic signals unless absolutely necessary (like me), and you have a potentially fatal combination. But life is full of risks, and I wouldn't life anywhere else but Florida, although I do enjoy rural Yankeetown a lot more than congested Orlando.

Jimbo47

I live in Texas and I ride the local MUPs, and I only live 2 miles from the nearest one. It's dangerous, so I drive. Between the cell phone users and texters, and the locals who don't care about their pets I'll stay off the street. Sadly too many and too often a cyclist gets killed in my city and all they get is a slap on the wrist if that! The standard excuse given is "I didn't see him/her and just felt the bump!"

Grillparzer

The very model of one.

Monoborracho

What a bunch of crap. Focus because you drive faster?

Here's a guess...you don't know how to calculate the functional relationship equation between cognization-line of sight-coefficient of friction-speed and reaction -eye-to-response-to-mechanical movement-to-brake time for 60 miles per hour and the tangental angle upon entry of the vehicle.

Adhering to and obeying the speed limit is because you are impaired?

Most ignorant post I've seen here in a while.

Take this P&R if the mods desire.

a77impala

I spend time in South Dakota and Texas, population in SD, 720,000, Texas, 25million?, the similarity, stop signs are pretty much ignored in both states! I never take for granted a car is going to obey a stop sign, I was broadsided a couple weeks ago in Austin.
The biggest problem in SD is the motorcycle rally, too many motorcycles on to few roads, too many people arrive on motorcycles and go home in a box. The blame there is equally shared by car drivers and bikers.

rdtompki

A couple of notes:
1. Hopefully, natural selection over the next few decades will improve the driving population in those states
2. From a cycling perspective the particular statistic doesn't take into account the amount of traffic. It would be interesting to estimate the number of vehicular encounters per hour and then factor in drive behavior. the good news is that while we're not completely masters of our own destiny, we can greatly affect the most important statistic with our own behavior, our own survival probability.

lenA

probably would if there were curves and hills

Dudelsack 

P&R? You mean A&S? S&M? B&D? WTF?

BlazingPedals

In Florida, you can drive up onto the sidewalk, plowing down pedestrians like dominos, and not even get a ticket. Unless you're drunk at the time. DUI is against the law.