States With The Worst Driving Behaviors – Forbes Advisor – Cyber Tech

The Aloha State most likely want to say goodbye to a brand new rating of drivers’ habits.

Hawaii sits atop our 2024 listing of the worst states for driving habits. Motorists there rank first for:

• Altering lanes or turning with out signaling
• Dashing 20 mph or extra over the restrict
• Operating a purple mild

Certain, we perceive that Hawaiians could also be in a rush to move to the seaside, prompting these three site visitors violations. However apart from the behaviors we’ve already talked about, Hawaii motorists rank extremely for unhealthy habits akin to driving drunk or medication, dashing 10 to 19 mph over the restrict and texting whereas driving.

Regardless of being one of many smallest states when it comes to land space, Hawaii covers lots of territory on the earth of unhealthy driving.

We analyzed knowledge from every state to reach at our listing of the states with the worst driving behaviors. These behaviors could cause accidents, which may affect your automotive insurance coverage price, even if you happen to weren’t at fault. We thought-about 19 completely different unhealthy behaviors, from consuming whereas driving to chopping somebody off.

People’ Worst Driving Habits

• Dashing (lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict) is the worst driving habits.
• Consuming whereas driving is subsequent, adopted by dashing as much as a yellow mild.
• 12% of American drivers admitted to texting whereas driving prior to now month.
• Practically 1 in 10 admitted honking, gesturing or cursing at a fellow driver prior to now month.
• Just one% mentioned they’ve pushed drunk or medication.

States With the Worst Driving Conduct

• Drivers in Hawaii have the worst driving habits, adopted by these in Oregon and New Mexico.
• Drivers in Hawaii additionally admit being the worst drivers. Simply 89% of drivers in Hawaii take into account themselves to be good drivers, the bottom share nationwide.
• Drivers in Virginia imagine they’re the very best drivers, with 99% claiming they’re good drivers. Regardless of this, Virginia is the 14th worst state for driving behaviors, in keeping with our evaluation.
• Tennessee drivers exhibit the very best driving behaviors.

The ten Worst States for Driving Conduct

1. Hawaii

Hawaii rating: 100 out of 100

Hawaii could be the fiftieth state to have joined america. Nevertheless it’s the primary state for the worst driving habits, our evaluation of behaviors during the last month reveals.

Maybe drivers within the Aloha State are distracted by the sheer fantastic thing about the islands. Or possibly they’re pissed off by site visitors jams. TomTom, a supplier of site visitors knowledge, ranked the Honolulu metro space second within the U.S. for the longest common period of time spent touring six miles in 2023.

Whatever the causes, motorists in Hawaii present up on the prime of three bad-driving classes. It’s the worst state for:

• Altering lanes or turning with out signaling (20%)
• Dashing 20 mph or extra over the restrict (13%)
• Operating a purple mild (8%), tied with Texas and Oregon

To make issues worse, practically half (47%) of drivers in Hawaii admitted dashing—lower than 10 mph over the restrict—prior to now month.

The behind-the-wheel risks don’t cease there, although. Hawaii additionally ranks:

• No. 2 for driving drunk or medication (tied with New Mexico, Minnesota, Utah and Alabama).
• No. 3 for dashing (10 to 19 mph over the restrict).
• No. 4 for texting whereas driving (tied with Missouri and Oklahoma).
• No. 4 for dashing to get via a yellow mild (tied with Wyoming, Vermont, West Virginia and Minnesota).
• No. 4 for angrily honking at one other driver (tied with South Carolina).
• No. 6 for refusing to yield to a different driver (tied with Connecticut, Wisconsin and Alabama).
• No. 7 for chopping off one other driver (tied with South Carolina and New York).

If these statistics are any indication, possibly drivers in Hawaii may benefit from brushing up on their driving abilities as an alternative of driving the waves.

2. Oregon

Oregon rating: 99.48 out of 100

Boasting greater than 6,000 lakes, over 112,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 13 nationwide parks, Oregon ranks among the many most stunning states within the nation.

But issues can get fairly ugly on the Beaver State’s roadways. Our knowledge reveals Oregon is the second worst state for unhealthy driving. Its drivers rank worst for:

• Operating a purple mild (8%)
• Refusing to yield one other driver (5%)
• Dashing in a faculty zone (4%)

It doesn’t assist issues that the state’s largest metropolis, Portland, sits at No. 10 on Forbes Advisor’s rating of the worst U.S. cities to drive in. Dragging down Portland’s standing: digital buckets of precipitation and sluggish rush-hour site visitors.

Provided that rating, it shouldn’t be a shock that Oregon ranks second for motorists inflicting automotive accidents, tied with Massachusetts, New Jersey and Alabama. Within the survey, 2% of Oregon drivers fessed as much as inflicting an accident prior to now month.

One other black mark for Oregon motorists: 45% of drivers say they’ve speeded (lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict) prior to now month.

3. New Mexico

New Mexico rating: 94.94 out of 100

With greater than 2.1 million residents unfold throughout 121,280 sq. miles, New Mexico is blessed by plenty of scenic wide-open areas. These areas make the state’s roughly 30,000 miles of interstate, U.S. and state highways awfully tempting for drivers who really feel the necessity for velocity.

It’s no marvel, then, that New Mexico ranks because the worst state for dashing 10 to 19 mph over the restrict. In our survey, practically one-fourth (22%) of New Mexico drivers admitted they’d traveled that quick prior to now month, tied with New Hampshire.

General, New Mexico holds the No. 3 spot among the many states with the worst driving habits. Two troublesome behind-the-wheel actions stand out: New Mexico ranks second (tied with Alabama, Minnesota and Hawaii) for driving drunk or medication (3%) and passing in a no-passing zone (2%), tied with New Jersey and Alabama.

This habits probably contributes to the state’s above-average price for site visitors deaths.

From 2019 via 2023, 2,174 individuals died on New Mexico highways, a median of 435 deaths per 12 months. The site visitors dying price of 1.46 fatalities per 100 million car miles of journey exceeds the nationwide common (1.26).

4. Wyoming

Wyoming rating: 89.88 out of 100

What Wyoming lacks in inhabitants, it makes up for in dimension.

The ninth largest state by space, Wyoming covers greater than 97,000 sq. miles. But it’s residence to solely about 577,000 individuals, making it the smallest state when it comes to inhabitants.

Sadly, Wyoming comes up huge in three bad-driving classes. It ranks first for:

• Consuming whereas driving (45%)
• Texting whereas driving (24%)
• Placing on make-up/preparing whereas driving (6%)

General, the Cowboy State ranks fourth for poor driving. It locations within the prime 10 for:

• Altering lanes or turning with out signaling (third)
• Run a purple mild (4th), tied with Connecticut, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire and North Dakota.
• Tailgating (ninth), tied with Kentucky, West Virginia and Washington

These behaviors—together with the small-town make-up of its inhabitants—would possibly assist clarify Wyoming’s standing in 2022 because the state with the best share of site visitors deaths (85%) on rural vs. city roads.

5. Alaska

Alaska rating: 89.70 out of 100

Encompassing greater than 570,000 sq. miles, Alaska stands tall as the most important state primarily based on land space. But due to its small and scattered inhabitants, fewer than 17,700 miles of public roads snake via the forty ninth state. Nonetheless, these roads could be treacherous.

Alaska nails down spots within the prime 10 for seven bad-driving behaviors:

• Driving whereas drunk or medication (1st)
• Passing in a no-passing zone (1st)
• Consuming whereas driving (2nd)
• Placing on make-up/preparing whereas driving (fifth), tied with Alabama, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico and Oregon
• Inflicting a automotive accident (sixth), tied with greater than a dozen different states
• Dashing 20 mph or extra over the restrict (ninth), tied with Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oklahoma and West Virginia
• Refusing to yield to a different driver (tenth), tied with eight different states

General, Alaska ranks fifth for unhealthy driving. The state’s climate probably performs a giant function on this distinction: Within the winter, which typically stretches from October to March, temperatures linger under zero and snow blankets the panorama.

6. North Dakota

North Dakota rating: 89.01 out of 100

Dad and mom, lecturers and principals in North Dakota must maintain an particularly shut eye on college students as they’re coming to and leaving faculty. Why? As a result of North Dakota ties because the worst state for dashing in a faculty zone, with 4% of drivers admitting they’ve engaged on this habits.

Faculty zones aren’t the one locations the place North Dakota drivers could be misbehaving, nevertheless. The Roughrider State additionally ranks within the prime 10 for:

• Tailgating (2nd), tied with Illinois and New Hampshire
• Operating a purple mild (4th), tied with Connecticut, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire and Washington
• Inflicting a automotive accident (sixth), tied with greater than a dozen different states
• Driving whereas drunk or medication (seventh), tied with 11 different states
• Consuming whereas driving (eighth), tied with Minnesota and Oregon
• Passing in a no-passing zone (eighth), tied with greater than a dozen different states

North Dakota ranks sixth general for poor driving. The state’s harsh winter climate is sort of definitely a contributing issue, as this season could be notably chilly and snowy—resulting in dangerously slick roads.

7. Connecticut

Connecticut rating: 88.39 out of 100

The conduct of some Connecticut motorists suggests they could want a refresher on driving etiquette.

The Structure State ranks among the many prime 10 in 9 bad-driving classes. Most notably, it ties because the worst state for dashing in a faculty zone, with 4% of drivers there self-reporting they’ve finished this.

However the bad-driving highway doesn’t finish there. The eight different classes the place Connecticut drivers fare poorly are:

• Angrily honking at one other driver (2nd), tied with New York
• Dashing 20 mph or extra over the restrict (third), tied with Arkansas and New Jersey
• Slicing somebody off (third), tied with Nebraska, New Hampshire and Nevada
• Dashing 10 to 19 mph over the restrict (4th)
• Operating a purple mild (4th), tied with six different states
• Refusing to yield to a different driver (sixth), tied with Alabama, Hawaii and Wisconsin
• Inflicting a automotive accident: (sixth), tied with greater than a dozen different states
• Dashing lower than 10 mph over the restrict (seventh)

For these Connecticut drivers nervous about site visitors security, a 2024 report would possibly supply some reduction: Site visitors stops throughout the state are on the rise once more after a decline through the 2000-21 peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. However they haven’t returned to pre-pandemic ranges.

8. Vermont

Vermont rating: 88.05 out of 100

Mountain climbing, snow snowboarding and snowmobiling are widespread pastimes in Vermont. However one other transportation-related exercise seems to be in style too: unhealthy driving.

General, Vermont holds the No. 8 spot for poor driving habits among the many states. Actually, it seems within the prime 10 for eight bad-driving classes. Vermont’s worst rating comes within the class of dashing in a faculty zone, tying for first place.

Different rankings that add to Vermont’s report of unhealthy driving are:

• Dashing lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict (2nd)
• Dashing as much as catch a yellow mild (4th), tied with Hawaii, West Virginia and Wyoming
• Consuming whereas driving (fifth), tied with Kansas and Maine
• Tailgating (fifth), tied with Arkansas, New Jersey and New Mexico
• Inflicting a automotive accident (sixth), tied with greater than a dozen different states
• Dashing 10 to 19 mph over the velocity restrict (eighth), tied with Wisconsin
• Passing in a no-passing zone (eighth), tied with a couple of dozen different states

As you would possibly anticipate in a state with a small inhabitants (round 643,000), 84% of Vermont’s site visitors deaths occurred in rural areas in 2022. The state’s three excessive rankings for dashing probably contribute to this dying toll.

9. Kansas

Kansas rating: 81.33 out of 100

Evidently extra Kansas drivers ought to maintain their eyes on the highway. The Sunflower State claims the No. 2 spot among the many states for texting whereas driving. In our survey, practically one-fourth (22%) of Kansas drivers admitted texting whereas driving.

Not solely is texting whereas driving unsafe, nevertheless it’s in opposition to the regulation in Kansas.

It’s a protected wager that texting whereas driving isn’t the one prohibited habits that Kansas motorists are participating in, on condition that Kansas seems at No. 9 on our listing of the states with the worst drivers. For instance, it ties because the worst state for dashing in a faculty zone.

Kansas additionally ranks within the prime 10 in these bad-driving classes:

• Altering lanes or turning with out signaling (4th)
• Dashing lower than 10 mph over the restrict (fifth), tied with Virginia
• Consuming whereas driving (fifth), tied with Maine and Vermont
• Angrily honking at one other driver (sixth), tied with Illinois, Maine, Minnesota and New Jersey
• Dashing as much as catch a yellow mild (ninth)

10. West Virginia

West Virginia rating: 80.89 out of 100

West Virginia’s designation because the Mountain State provides drivers a mountain of causes to train warning behind the wheel. In any case, the state’s mountainous terrain makes navigating the roads a bit trickier. Sadly, some West Virginia drivers fail to embrace sure guidelines of the rocky roads.

West Virginia ranks tenth general for driving poor habits. The worst habits: 18% of drivers admitted texting whereas driving, placing it in third place among the many states on this class. That’s even though texting whereas driving is illegitimate in West Virginia.

Texting whereas driving isn’t the one troubling exercise on West Virginia’s roads, nevertheless. It ranks:

• Fourth for dashing as much as catch a yellow mild, tied with Minnesota, Hawaii, Vermont and Wyoming
• Eighth for passing in a no-passing zone, tied with greater than a dozen different states
• Ninth for dashing 20 mph or extra over the restrict, tied with Alaska, Oklahoma, Massachusetts and New Mexico
• tenth for being concerned in a automotive accident that wasn’t the motive force’s fault, tied with greater than a dozen different states

The States With the Finest Driving Conduct

• Tennessee ranks as the very best state general for the very best driving habits.
• Tennessee ranks as the very best state for dashing (lower than 10 mph over the restrict) and (20 mph or extra over the restrict).
• Ohio ranks as the subsequent greatest state for driving habits, adopted by Pennsylvania and Florida.
• Pennsylvania ranks or ties as the very best state for the next driving behaviors: placing on make-up/preparing whereas driving, dashing in a faculty zone, driving drunk or medication, inflicting a automotive accident, passing in a no-passing zone.

Every State’s Worst Driving Behaviors

• The vast majority of states have the identical prime 3: Velocity (lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict), consuming whereas driving and dashing as much as yellow mild.
• Oklahoma is the one state the place texting and driving makes the highest 3 worst habits.
• Consuming and driving is the worst behavior for Alaska, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming.

Worst Driving Conduct by Make of Automobile

1. Chevrolet

• Chevy drivers have the worst driving habits amongst another automotive model
• 41% admitting to dashing (lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict) prior to now month
• 29% admit to consuming whereas driving prior to now month
• 23% velocity as much as catch a yellow mild prior to now month
• 8% honk at different drivers in anger prior to now month
• 11% textual content whereas driving prior to now month
• Whereas 94% take into account themselves to be good drivers, simply  2% say they’re not good drivers

2. GMC

• GMC drivers are the second worst drivers amongst another automotive model
• 34% admit to hurry (lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict) over the previous month
• 25% admit to consuming whereas driving over the previous month prior to now month
• 23% admit to hurry as much as catch a yellow mild over the previous month
• 28% say they’ve pushed with out doing any unhealthy behaviors prior to now month
• 96% take into account themselves to be good drivers

3. Buick

• Buick drivers are the third worst drivers amongst another automotive model
• 40% velocity (lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict) prior to now month
• 29% admit to consuming whereas driving prior to now month
• 12% textual content whereas driving prior to now month
• 8% drove 20 mph or extra over the velocity restrict prior to now month
• 96% take into account themselves to be good drivers

4. Chrysler

• Chrysler drivers are the fourth worst drivers amongst another automotive model
• 38% drove (lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict) prior to now month
• Over 1 in 10 (11%) admit to texting whereas driving prior to now month
• 35% ate and drove prior to now month
• 1 in 10 (9%) have honked, cursed or gestured at one other driver in anger
• 3% ran a purple mild prior to now month
• Solely 24% say they’ve finished not one of the unhealthy driving habits supplied
• 98% take into account themselves to be good drivers

5. Dodge

• Dodge drivers are the fifth worst drivers amongst another automotive model
• 38% velocity lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict
• 34% eat whereas driving
• 23% velocity as much as catch a yellow mild
• 12% textual content whereas driving
• Over 1 in 10 (11%) have honked, cursed or gestured at one other driver in anger
• 94% take into account themselves to be  good drivers

Different Attention-grabbing Driving Conduct Statistics

Males Contemplate Themselves to be Higher Drivers than Ladies

• 94% of drivers thought-about themselves to be good drivers (96% of males, 94% of ladies). Information from the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security exposes an fascinating distinction between female and male drivers. Whereas extra males than females die every year in automotive crashes, females are extra probably than males to be killed or injured in crashes of comparable severity.

People Really feel Drivers Are Getting Worse Since Covid-19

• 50% really feel driving has gotten worse for the reason that Covid-19 pandemic, and solely 14% really feel it has gotten higher. This discovering aligns with a 2023 survey by Verra Mobility, a supplier of sensible mobility know-how. In that survey, 54% of People felt the typical driver was worse now in contrast with the pre-pandemic interval. And 40% felt much less protected on the roads.

Texting Whereas Driving Is the Worst Conduct Drivers Have Witnessed Others Doing

• 40% encounter different drivers texting whereas driving repeatedly (a number of occasions prior to now month). When you’re not satisfied of the risks of texting whereas driving, take into account this: Sending or studying a textual content takes your eyes off the highway for five seconds, in keeping with the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration. At 55 mph, that is like driving the size of a soccer area along with your eyes shut.

Youthful Generations Extra Prone to Textual content Whereas Driving

• 18% of Gen Zers and 22% of millennials admitted doing so prior to now month. That compares with 11% of Gen Xers, 4% of child boomers and 1% of the Silent Era. For youthful drivers, the implications of texting whereas driving could be lethal. Amongst deadly crashes involving distracted drivers within the U.S. in 2019, an even bigger share of 15- to 20-year-olds had been distracted than drivers 21 and older, in keeping with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

Learn how to Watch Out for Harmful Driving

1. Keep Alert and Keep away from Distractions

It’s vital to all the time maintain your give attention to the highway and keep away from distractions akin to texting, calling, consuming and listening to music. Defensive driving means being conscious of your environment and anticipating any potential hazards.

2. Preserve a Secure Following Distance

You should definitely keep a protected distance from the car in entrance of you. The final rule is to remain not less than 3 seconds behind the car forward, which supplies you adequate time to react to sudden stops or modifications in site visitors situations.

3. Watch Out for Aggressive Drivers

Be looking out for aggressive driving behaviors akin to tailgating, extreme dashing and erratic lane modifications. When you encounter an aggressive driver, it’s greatest to securely distance your self from them.

How Dangerous Driving Impacts your Automobile Insurance coverage

1. Greater Premiums

Insurance coverage corporations calculate premiums primarily based on the danger of insuring the motive force and car. You probably have a historical past of inflicting accidents or racking up dashing tickets and different violations, anticipate your premiums to be greater.

2. Lack of Reductions

Many insurance coverage corporations supply reductions for protected driving. You’ll lose these reductions if you happen to accumulate tickets or trigger accidents.

3. Impression on Future Insurance coverage Charges

A poor driving report can observe you for years. If you apply for a automotive insurance coverage coverage, the insurance coverage firm will assessment your claims historical past and motorcar report, and these will have an effect on the charges you’re provided. State legal guidelines fluctuate primarily based on how lengthy these issues can keep in your report, however anticipate tickets to typically stay for 3 to 5 years.

Methodology

To find out which states have the worst driving habits, Forbes Advisor in contrast all 50 states throughout the next 19 metrics:

• Share of drivers who report dashing (lower than 10 mph over the velocity restrict) within the final month (2.5% or rating).
• Share of drivers who report dashing (10 mph to 19 mph over the velocity restrict) within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report dashing (20 mph or extra over the velocity restrict) within the final month (7.5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report dashing as much as catch a yellow mild within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report working a purple mild within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report texting whereas driving within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report consuming whereas driving within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report altering lanes or flip with out signaling within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report honking/cursing/gesturing at one other driver in anger within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report tailgating within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report chopping somebody off within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report refusing to yield to a different driver within the final month (2.5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report placing on make-up/prepare (brush enamel, shave, and so on.) whereas driving within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report dashing in a faculty zone within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report being concerned in an accident for which they weren’t at fault within the final month (2.5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report driving whereas drunk or medication within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report inflicting a automotive accident within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report passing in no-passing zones or when it’s harmful to move within the final month (5% of rating).
• Share of drivers who report not doing any of the unhealthy driving behaviors above within the final month (15% of rating).

Information for all metrics comes from a survey of 5,000 People with a driver’s license (100 in every state) who’re not less than age 18.

This survey was carried out by market analysis firm Talker Analysis, in accordance with the Market Analysis Society’s code of conduct. Information was collected from June 24 to July 3, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.4 factors with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Analysis, whose group members are members of the Market Analysis Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Advertising Analysis (ESOMAR).