Safest States to Drive: Washington State Ranked 8th Safest State to Drive in 2021
Each state has its own driving and insurance laws as well as weather, road conditions and rural versus urban makeup that contribute to road safety and traffic accident rates. What’s the safest states to drive in each year, and why. Naturally, we are interested in where our own state ranks. Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, reviews.com ranked all 50 states from safest to the most dangerous to drive in for 2021. Find the complete list here: https://www.reviews.com/insurance/car/most-dangerous-states-for-driving/
Safest States to Drive: Washington ranked 8th in 2021
Washington State ranked well on the list, coming in as the 8th safest to drive out of all 50 states. The state had a fatality rate* of 0.88 per 100 million vehicle miles, a 72 percent drop since 1975. By comparison, Massachusetts was ranked the safest state to drive in with a fatality rate of 0.54 per 100 million vehicle miles, an 80 percent drop since 1975. The site found that the most dangerous state to drive in is South Carolina with a fatality rate of 1.83 per 100 million vehicle miles, a 54 percent drop since 1975.
*The motor vehicle accident fatality rate is calculated by dividing the number of fatalities per 100,000 population by mode share (number of trips using a type of transportation).
Recent traffic accident statistics
According to 2019 data reported by the NSC, traffic accidents were responsible for the deaths of 38,800 people. This was a two percent drop from 2018, when 39,404 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. In addition, 4.4 million people were injured enough to require medical care after being involved in a crash. This also represented a two percent decline over 2018.
As we know, Covid-19 restrictions implemented in March of 2020 had a dramatic, if temporary, affect on the amount of traffic on our roadways. Less cars on the road did translate to fewer accidents but sadly, the fatality rate jumped. While the total number of traffic collision deaths dropped by eight percent in March, 2020 compared to March, 2019, the number of miles driven dropped by more than 18 percent and this meant a 14 percent increase in the death rate. The council also found that for every 100 million miles driven in March, 2020 there were 1.22 deaths from collisions, compared with 1.07 in March, 2019. This means that with the large drop in miles driven, there was a higher percentage of people dying in motor vehicle accidents last March.
Before Covid-19, traffic deaths were certainly on a downward trend—especially among children. Hopefully, as traffic returns to more normal patterns, we can get back to a declining traffic fatality rate. According to 2018 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there was a collision fatality decrease of more than 10 percent among children. In addition, speeding related crashes dropped by almost six percent and deaths from drunk driving declined by about four percent. Drunk driving deaths in that year accounted for just over a quarter of traffic deaths, which was the lowest percentage in over 35 years. Safety experts believe that these encouraging trends were a result of better safety measures.
On the flip side, pedestrian, motorcycle and bicycle deaths all increased in 2018 contributing to a new reality: urban traffic deaths have consistently been higher than traffic deaths in rural areas since 2016. This is a big reversal and a trend that cities need to be aware of.
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
