Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America’s roads, leading to thousands of deaths each year. A recent study by Bader Scott Injury Lawyers examined distracted driving statistics in all 50 states, revealing the ten worst and ten best states for this hazardous behavior.
New Mexico emerged as the worst state for distracted driving, with a final score of 100 and nearly 40% of its fatal crashes attributed to distracted driving. Other states with high rates of distracted driving include Kansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and New Jersey. Bader Scott’s analysis took into consideration factors such as total crash deaths, fatalities caused by distracted drivers, and the number of distracted drivers per 100,000 licensed drivers.
In contrast, Rhode Island was identified as the best state for distracted driving, scoring a perfect zero overall. Other top-performing states included Connecticut, Alaska, and Mississippi. These states had significantly lower rates of distracted driving-related fatalities and a smaller number of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers.
Bader Scott utilized data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), and Census Bureau population figures to calculate the distracted driving rankings. While the rankings were specific to the 2024 calendar year, the data from NHTSA and FHA were from 2022. The study considered three main indicators: distracted driving fatality percentage, deaths per 100,000 residents caused by distracted drivers, and the number of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers.
The prevalence of distracted driving poses serious risks to everyone on the road, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Engaging in activities such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting the radio while driving diverts attention from the road and significantly increases the likelihood of accidents. By highlighting the states with the highest rates of distracted driving, this study underscores the importance of enacting and enforcing laws that deter this dangerous behavior.
As the findings of this study demonstrate, distracted driving remains a critical issue that demands immediate attention and action from policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and the public. By raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, implementing stricter regulations, and promoting safe driving practices, we can work together to reduce the number of fatalities caused by this preventable behavior and make our roads safer for everyone.