It’s a phrase you’ve heard at least once in your life: “The worst drivers in the US are in [fill in the blank.]” Much depends on a person’s individual driving experience, and how much time spent driving in a specific city or state. So how do West Virginia drivers fare? Do the stats indicate West Virginia drivers are good drivers?
Fortunately, drivers in West Virginia are some of the better ones in the US, according to a new survey by QuoteWizard. The QuoteWizard research team evaluated driver quality from all 50 states. West Virginia drivers rank third nationally on the list of “best” driving states in the US, ahead of Texas, which ranks 24th, Louisiana, which ranks 9th, and Mississippi, which ranks 12th.
QuoteWizard does have a warning for West Virginia drivers: slow down. The Mountain State dropped one spot on this year’s listing because of a higher number of speeding tickets. The survey ranks us 48th in accidents, 46th in citations, 44th in DUIs, and 36th in speeding tickets. West Virginia also ranks third for the best state by the number of accidents.
So Where Are The Worst Drivers?
New York? New Jersey? Arizona? Oklahoma?
QuoteWizard’s survey also lists the US’s worst drivers, and found they are in the:
1. Utah
2. California
3. Iowa
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio
6. North Dakota
7. neighboring Virginia
8. Arizona
9. Hawaii
10. Rhode Island
The survey found that the eastern states tend to have better drivers than western states, and states with high numbers of DUI cases also had higher rates of dangerous driving habits like speeding and accidents.
Other Driver Listings
QuoteWizard analyzed 2022 data from over 10 million drivers requesting insurance quotes. States that have the so-called “worst drivers” also had drivers who shared the most incidents or driving issues, including DUI, speeding tickets, other traffic citations, and accidents.
In a separate list compiled by Forbes using 2019 crash data from the US Department of Transportation, Texas ranks at the top for the worst drivers, followed by Louisiana in second place. Texas and Louisiana’s ranking comes from the large number of drunk drivers and DUI cases.
Conversely, Forbes lists Washington, DC, as the place with the nation’s best drivers. West Virginia drivers rank 21st on this list, with 11.2 drunk driving incidents per 100,000 licensed drivers and .083 fatalities involving distracted drivers for the same number.
Consumer Affairs also has a list of the worst drivers in the US, but the cities are only over 100,000, so Charleston isn’t listed. Memphis is their top city with the worst drivers, with Louisiana’s Baton Rouge as the second. The website also has a list of the best and worst roads in the US, with West Virginia’s roads ranking #14 worst.
As a result, West Virginia drivers can take pride in knowing that they are not the worst in the US because there are even worse drivers elsewhere. However, this is little comfort if you have been hit by a negligent driver in West Virginia!
Charleston, WV Car Accident Attorney Chad Love
We’ve helped thousands of West Virginians for over 25 years with car accidents. Speak with Attorney Chad Love before you speak with anyone else about your accident, including any insurance company. If you have been injured in a car accident in Charleston or the nearby area, you may be entitled to more than the settlement an insurance company is offering. Ongoing medical bills, physical therapy, lost wages, or permanent disability are areas that may be ignored by an insurance company.
If you’ve been involved in a Charleston, WV, car accident, contact us at The Love Law Firm, or call us at (304) 344 5683. Your consultation is free, and we only collect if we win your case.
