The Best and Worst Drivers by State in 2022
The best and worst drivers by state are listed every year based on different criteria. Speeding tickets, citations, and DUI arrests are among of the factors that are in the data. Mississippi is ranked as the state with the worst drivers.
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Written by
Chris Tepedino
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Reviewed by
Laura Walker
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UPDATED: Jun 21, 2022
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- Based on fatalities, DUI arrests, citations, and speeding tickets, each year a list of states with the best and worst drivers are produced.
- GEICO and Progressive insurance companies are the two recommended companies for those with speeding, reckless driving, accidents, and DUIs on their records
- Data is pulled from two million car insurance quotes from all across the country to decide the states with the best and worst drivers
Each year, a list is produced of the best and worst drivers by state. These statistics are based on a number of factors such as DUI arrests and speeding tickets. Progressive and GEICO are two insurance companies that are recommended for the states with the worst drivers. This is because they have cheaper than average rates for certain driving violations.
Find out if your state has the worst drivers and make sure you’re adequately covered. Enter your ZIP code and get a free quote today.
Table of Contents
Top 10 States With the Worst Drivers
Each year, based on data from fatalities, driving under the influence (DUI) arrests, citations, and speeding tickets, states are ranked as states with the worst drivers or states with the best drivers. The list below shows the worst drivers by state. You’ll notice that these states are across the whole country – and not specified geographically. So, what state has the worst drivers?
Mississippi. Mississippi is on the list of states with the worst drivers. It has the second highest number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles. Mississippi also has the second-lowest rate of insured drivers at 76.3%.
Nevada. Nevada is rated as being a state with some of the worst drivers, specifically because of their DUI rates. Of 1,000 drivers, approximately six drivers have been arrested with a DUI charge.
Tennessee. With only 80% of drivers insured, and a rate of three DUI arrests per 1,000, Tennessee is next on the list of states with the worst drivers.
Florida. The residents of Florida have the lowest rate of insured drivers at 73.3%. Also, they are ranked 11th when it comes to the highest number of vehicle-related fatalities.
California. California has approximately four DUI arrests per 1,000 drivers, ranking them at number five for states with the worst drivers.
Arizona. Arizona is on the list specifically because of its rates of vehicle-related fatalities. They are ranked at the third highest in driving-related deaths.
Texas. Tied in ranking with South Carolina, Texas has four DUI arrests per every thousand.
South Carolina. Tied in ranking with Texas, South Carolina is seventh on the list of states with the worst drivers. South Carolina comes in at number one for highest in driving-related fatalities.
New Mexico. This state ranks at number nine with over 1/5th of their drivers being uninsured.
Alaska. Of the states on the list with the worst drivers, Alaska features the least bad drivers, coming in at number 10. Alaska ranks sixth for the highest in driving-related fatalities.
Although the aforementioned represent the top 10 states with the worst drivers, a list likewise exists featuring the states where the top 10 worst drivers reside. Some of the states do overlap and show up on both lists.
- Wisconsin
- Tennessee
- New Jersey
- Idaho
- Utah
- Alaska
- California
- Virginia
- North Dakota
- Iowa
Obviously, not everyone who lives in one of the states with the worst drivers is actually a bad driver, but it’s something to keep in mind when you’re out on the road. Be safe!
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Top 10 States With the Best Drivers
According to WCIA, data was pulled from two million car insurance quotes from drivers all across the country to compile a list of best drivers by state. Factoring in accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, and citations – the same criteria as was used for the worst drivers list – the states with the best drivers appear as follows:
- New Hampshire
- West Virginia
- Oklahoma
- Kentucky
- Illinois
- Delaware
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Arizona
- Connecticut
If you live in one of these states, you may pay less for your car insurance than others, since insurance companies take these factors into account when setting rates.
What insurance companies are the best for bad drivers?
There are two recommended insurance companies that are more supportive towards those drivers who are not the best. GEICO is recommended for those who have speeding and reckless driving on their records. Not only does GEICO provide car insurance, but they also provide ATV, Recreational Vehicle (RV), and Boat insurance.
Progressive is recommended for those who have a history of accidents or have DUI arrests on their record. Progressive provides bundle deals to help their clients save more money. This company offers combinations to include auto and condo, auto and renters, and auto and home. They also ensure ATVs, snowmobiles. motorcycles, boats, and classic cars.
Both Progressive and GEICO have cheaper rates than the annual average costs of other insurance companies.
| Violation | Cheapest Insurer | Annual Cost of the Cheaper Insurer | Average Annual Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding | GEICO | $2,186 | $2,748 | 20% |
| Run a stop sign | GEICO | $2,188 | $2,758 | 21% |
| Racing | GEICO | $2,265 | $2,848 | 20% |
| Reckless driving | GEICO | $2,265 | $2,848 | 20% |
| Careless driving | GEICO | $2,188 | $2,933 | 25% |
| DUI | Progressive | $2,038 | $3,390 | 40% |
| At-Fault Accident | Progressive | $2,428 | $3,526 | 31% |
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Now that you know the best and worst drivers by state, make sure you are aligning yourself with the insurance company that is right for you. Enter your ZIP code and get a free quote today.