Around 46,000 people are killed in car accidents yearly on highways in the United States. There are about 12.4 deaths per 100,000 persons on the roads, and nother 4.4 million are seriously injured and would require medical attention. Knowing these dangers, you’re probably wondering which state is the safest for drivers.
Massachusetts has the lowest rate of road fatalities in The United States of America, both in terms of population and per mile traveled.
The Rate of Road Fatalities in Massachusetts During the Pandemic
Despite lower motor vehicle travel in the first year of the pandemic, more people died on Massachusetts roads in 2020 than in 2019. According to newly released federal data, the Bay State maintained the country’s lowest rate of fatalities based on miles driven during a national disaster.
According to the annual traffic crash data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 343 motor vehicle collision fatalities occurred in Massachusetts in 2020. Which is a slight increase from the 336 in 2019.
While total deaths climbed in the Bay State, the number of fatalities involving alcohol decreased from 112 in 2019, this is including one-third of all fatalities, to 98 in 2020. Placing the number at around 28.5% of total roadway deaths.
The Bay State’s 2% increase in total traffic deaths occurred alongside a nearly 17% decrease in vehicle miles traveled from 2019 to 2020. The residents of Massachusetts drove less due to the pandemic due to prolonged government-ordered business closures, lockdowns, and widespread shifts to remote work and education.
According to the NHTSA, the number of roadway fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in Massachusetts increased from 0.52 in 2019 to 0.63 when the pandemic started. Nonetheless, it remained the safest among the 50 states. (Source: WBUR)
Boston Drivers and Their Bad Reputation on the Road
Most of us have been cruising down the road on the highway, only to be cut off or beeped at by a careless driver. When we see a license plate with the word Massachusetts on it, the first thing that comes to mind is Masshole.
That is the affectionate term for drivers who use aggressive driving tactics on the nation’s highways. Due to poor road conditions and congested city streets, Massachusetts drivers are among the worst in the country.
A user on Reddit posted; Why are Massachusetts drivers so bad? The responses poured in, with some blaming road conditions, poor signage, or road rage. Others blamed the bad conditions on out-of-state drivers, left-lane hogs, and treacherous winter weather.
Many people, most of whom were most likely from Boston, attempted to defend their driving habits.
According to a New York City driver, the worst problem is the terrible road layout. He also mentioned that drivers in Boston frequently fail to use their turn signals, making intersections a nightmare to navigate. Another characteristic shared by Massachusetts drivers is the use of their car horns. The constant blare of honking vehicles on these northeast city highways is a daily occurrence. (Source: Motor Biscuit)