Top 10 Most Dangerous States In USA For Winter Driving
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| Most Dangerous States In America For Winter Driving. Photo KnowInsiders.com |
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Driving recklessly in the winter causes tens of thousands of accidents every year in the United States.
More than 1.5 million crashes occur annually because of ice, snow, or sleet, and winter conditions are responsible for up to 17% of weather-related crashes and deaths.
When people in the United States think of winter driving, more than 70 percent think of snow, ice, and other potentially hazardous conditions. More than 1,300 people lose their lives every year in the United States because of weather-related car accidents, and nearly 40% of those accidents happen on icy or snowy roads, according to the Department of Transportation.
How can you tell if the driving conditions in your state are particularly dangerous? MoneyGeek has ranked the 15 states with the most hazardous roads in the winter. To determine the most dangerous states for winter driving, the company looked at winter driving fatalities, the fatality rate adjusted for vehicle miles traveled, and the states with the best and worst drivers.
An overall winter risk score was computed by weighting and transforming these metrics onto a scale from 0 to 100. This score will be used to determine the final placement.
Video Car Acccidents Caused by Winter Weather Caught On Camera:
What Are The Most Dangerous States In The U.S For Winter Driving?
1.Michigan
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| Winter Driving |
Michigan is the most dangerous state in the nation to drive in during the winter months, beating out Alaska for number of fatalities on the roads every winter, according to data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System for 2017-2019 analyzed near the end of October by MoneyGeek.
When it comes to driving-related deaths caused by cold and snow, Michigan is far and away the worst state. Deaths due to winter weather accidents totaled 282 between 2013 and 2017, 85 more than the next highest state. Since this state is well-known for its severe winters, this may come as no surprise. Michigan ranks as the second worst state for winter weather driving accidents, with an annual average of 37 fatalities for every 100 below-freezing days.
| Do you have an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle? Ahead of snowfall and icy roads, the Michigan State Police say to stock your car with blankets, a flashlight and more in the event you get stranded or stuck. |
2.Alaska
Alaska recorded 18 winter driving fatalities (rank = 24) in the last 3 years.
Adjusted for vehicle miles traveled in the state, Alaska ranks #1 for winter driving fatalities.
MoneyGeek's ranking of the safest drivers puts Alaska drivers as #36 in the nation for driving safety.
 Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads In The US Take a look at the top ten most dangerous roads in America, based on the number of recorded crashes. |
3.Wyoming
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| Winter Driving |
Total fatalities: 12.57 per billion miles travelled (8.7% above the national average)
Urban road fatalities: 9.53 per billion miles travelled (12.7% above the national average)
Rural road fatalities: 13.87 per billion miles travelled (22.3% below the national average)
In 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation chose Wyoming as one of three states to test cutting-edge short-range communication technology, primarily along Interstate 80, which stretches across more than 400 miles of Wyoming's southern border. The program's goal is to enhance driving safety on the interstate despite the fact that the highway is subject to extreme weather conditions all year long.
4.Ohio
172 winter-driving fatalities
When it comes to winter driving, Ohio has been one of the most dangerous states in recent years, with the second-highest death toll of any state in 2017. There were 172 people killed in Ohio due to winter driving accidents in the past five years, which is 37 more than the next highest state, Illinois. Seven people lost their lives on the stretch of I-71 that links the major cities of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati during the winter months we studied.
READ MORE: Winter Begins: Meaning and Acitivities!
5.Pennsylvania
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197 winter-driving fatalities
Pennsylvania is the second deadliest state for drivers during the winter, with an annual average of nearly 40 fatalities. Accidents caused by the winter weather claimed the lives of six people in Pittsburgh and four in Philadelphia, the most populous city in the country. I-80, a major highway that spans the width of the state, was the deadliest road for winter driving. It links the states of New York and Ohio, which have the second and third highest rates of winter driving deaths, respectively.
| Do you need snow tires? According to the AAA, it all depends on where you do your winter driving. Across much of the United States, all-season tires provide sufficient performance throughout the year, according to AAA's Ellen Edmonds. "Yet, millions of drivers in the north or the mountains could benefit from a set of winter tires. Because of the higher price tag, some consumers may be hesitant to buy a second set of winter tires. To counter this, having a dedicated set of winter tires in climates that require them will greatly improve the safety of winter driving." All-terrain, all-season, summer, and winter tires are the four main categories. Unless we have a specially equipped off-road vehicle, most of us drive on all-season tires year round. All-season tires are able to adapt to a wide range of weather and road conditions, including light snow and hot pavement. To be effective everywhere, however, the tires have to sacrifice some of their other features. According to MoneyGeek's report, winter tires are made to withstand sub-freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and slick pavement. |
6.Montana
Total fatalities: 14.71 per billion miles travelled (27.3% above the national average)
Urban road fatalities: 4.87 per billion miles travelled (42.4% below the national average)
Rural road fatalities: 19.09 per billion miles travelled (6.9% above the national average
The Montana Department of Transportation gives information on driving-related fatalities on the homepage of its website, along with what kind of behaviors led to the incidents such as impaired driving and improper restraint (seatbelts, etc). The crash data also includes how many fatalities were distributed among pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.
READ MORE: Useful Tips to Drive on Icy Road in Winter
7.Wisconsin
Total fatalities: 9.38 per billion miles travelled (18.8% below the national average)
Urban road fatalities: 6.66 per billion miles travelled (21.2% below the national average)
Rural road fatalities: 11.96 per billion miles travelled (33.0% below the national average)
Wisconsin's free driving safety alert program, 511WI, provides drivers with personalized route and safety information. The website allows drivers to create alerts for their routes, access weather forecasts, view traffic in real time, and get reports for specific highways.
8.South Dakota
South Dakota recorded 12 winter driving fatalities (rank = 34) in the last 3 years.
Adjusted for vehicle miles traveled in the state, South Dakota ranks #9 for winter driving fatalities.
MoneyGeek's ranking of the safest drivers puts South Dakota drivers as #35 in the nation for driving safety.
9.Nebraska
In the Cornhusker State, where Omaha receives an average of 28 inches of snow per year, the risk of being involved in a crash due to snow or ice is 0.3164 per 100,000.
In April of 2019, Nebraska, in conjunction with local, county, and state law enforcement agencies, launched a new campaign to warn residents about the perils of drugged driving. In 2017, local news outlets reported that approximately 19% of all fatal crashes in the state were drug-related.
10.Illinois
135 winter-driving fatalities
Illinois was the fifth deadliest state for winter driving in the United States, with an annual average of 27 fatalities related to winter driving from 2013 to 2017. The death toll was largely driven by events in Chicago. More than one winter driving accident was reported in each city in Illinois, and all of those cities were in the Chicago metropolitan area.
During the time period we studied, there were 30 fatalities in Cook County (which includes a large portion of the Chicago metropolitan area), which is more than in 18 states.
Driving Tips In The Winter
| The top tips for winter driving safety are - take your vehicle in for a routine maintenance check before the snowy season, equip your car with snow tires if necessary, and keep supplies on hand. Keeping ice scrapers, blankets and extra gloves, booster cables, and a tow rope in your car is recommended this winter. |
Regardless of weather, your odds of dying in a car crash are one in 114. Obviously winter weather impacts those chances, but you don’t have to trade in your car for snow shoes. There are some simple things you can do to improve your odds on treacherous roads:
-Check the tires, wipers, fluids, lights, and indicators—make sure they’re in working order and ready for wet, snowy, icy, or slushy roads.
-Always clear ice and snow completely before putting your car into “Drive.”
-Buckle up (it bears repeating!).
-Turn on lights for safety—visibility can be your best friend in a storm.
-Always use the indicators when changing lanes, turning, etc.
-Take it easy—there’s no prize for first place on an icy road.
-Stay about twenty seconds behind other cars in case you have to stop suddenly.
-Don’t slam on the brakes.
The Safest Thing for Driving in Snow
Slow down and be patient! Many winter driving accidents are caused by motorists traveling too fast for the weather conditions. The other drivers on the road may be “re-learning” how to drive in snow, so being aware and considerate is a big step in the right direction. Stay accident-free, and you will thank yourself when your auto insurance company reviews your policy.
Other tips for driving safely in the snow include:
-Avoid sudden braking, accelerating, and turning of the wheel.
-Look ahead as far as visibility allows, to watch for oncoming obstacles.
-Stay well back from snow plows and only pass them if absolutely necessary.
-Never pass snow plows on the right.
The Safest Thing for Driving in Ice, Sleet, and Freezing Rain
Ice is even more treacherous than driving in snow, and can dramatically change how your vehicle interacts with the road. Keep these safety tips in mind:
-Under normal conditions, you should use the “two-second” rule — you should be at least two seconds behind the car in front of you at all times. In snowy and icy conditions, double or even triple this number.
-Don’t use your cruise control while driving on ice or snow.
-Be especially cautious when approaching shaded areas, bridges, and overpasses, where freezing rain and ice occurs most frequently.
-Braking in ice and snow can be challenging. For cars with non-ABS brakes, braking with a pumping motion is recommended. If your vehicle has ABS or disk braking systems, you should not pump the brakes. If you don’t know what kind of brakes your vehicle has, consult a mechanic, your driver’s manual, or the Internet.
-In case of a skid, turn in the direction of the skid. Drivers in vehicles with rear-wheel drive should take their foot off the accelerator, while drivers in vehicles with front-wheel drive should keep steady pressure on the accelerator.
Turn on your headlights, even during daylight hours, to increase your visibility to other drivers.
What is winter car insurance?
Equipping your car with collision insurance and comprehensive insurance. Collision coverage pays for car repair bills if you crash into another car or an object, whereas comprehensive coverage pays for non-crash, often weather-related damage, and chips in your windshield that expand to large cracks in freezing temperatures.
Auto insurance policies don't always pay out for repairs when winter weather is to blame. The combination of free-falling ice, gusty winds, and heavy snow can cause significant damage. Find out from your insurer if weather coverage is an optional extra, or if it is included in your current policy.
Consult with dedicated insurance professionals if you have other worries about driving on icy roads and how your car insurance will hold up during the stormy season.
It's likely that you've thought about not driving at all if you're from a region that regularly experiences snow and ice. Someone, then, might decide to put their auto insurance on hold during the colder months.
An insurance policy for a motor vehicle cannot be put on indefinite hold. You can get storage insurance from a few different companies. If you select this option, you can cancel all of your insurance policies except for comprehensive.
You Need Coverage for Seasonal Vehicles: If your car is stolen or damaged and you don't have insurance, you'll have to pay for everything out of pocket. In addition, the discounts insurance companies can offer and the activation fees you will need to pay to create a new policy each year typically outweigh the amount you save during the 'off-season.
Best Car Insurance Coverage for Winter:
Comprehensive and collision coverages are two of the most important kinds of auto insurance to have during the colder months. These policies safeguard your automobile against property damage rather than bodily injury. You should contact your insurance provider well in advance of the onset of winter if you want to increase your auto policy's coverage in anticipation of harsher weather.
Any major weather event has the potential to cause this, but floods and hurricanes are the most common causes. If you are concerned about the safety of your car during the colder months, you should take the following steps.
| The smartest way to save money on insurance for a car you're storing over the winter is to keep the policy active by maintaining its comprehensive coverage and suspending its road coverage. |
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