Special Report

This State Has the Worst Highway Fatality Rate in America

Melly Alazraki

Published: February 25, 2024 10:10 am

Alabama

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.45 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 15th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.49% — 21st highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.21 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 13th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 5.16% — 15th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.43 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 24th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 29,707 — 20th highest

Alaska

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.71 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 7th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 9.63% — the highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.27 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 10th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.69% — 12th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 0.99 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 5th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 11,754 — 8th lowest

Arizona

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.62 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 10th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.22% — 15th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.49 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 3rd highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.13% — 14th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.34 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 18th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 20,046 — 20th lowest

Arkansas

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.03 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 18th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.65% — 12th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.58 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 7th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 5.13% — 16th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.11 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 8th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 38,078 — 16th highest

California

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.52 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 12th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 4.52% — 3rd highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.96 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 23rd lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 9.38% — 4th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.77 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 13th highest
• State-control highway miles: 52,004 — 9th highest

Colorado

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.29 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 19th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 8.32% — 2nd highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.18 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 15th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 6.64% — 11th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.38 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 20th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 23,022 — 23rd lowest

Connecticut

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.19 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 25th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.73% — 13th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.74 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 11th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.57% — 8th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.32 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 17th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 9,827 — 7th lowest

Delaware

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.49 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 13th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: N/A% — N/A
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.33 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 8th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 8.67% — 7th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.43 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 25th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 11,998 — 9th lowest

Florida

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.79 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 6th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.15% — the lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.55 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 2nd highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.59% — 9th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.28 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 15th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 45,013 — 12th highest

Georgia

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.37 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 16th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.91% — 18th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.20 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 14th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.36% — 5th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.61 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 18th highest
• State-control highway miles: 49,497 — 11th highest

Hawaii

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 2.89 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 2nd highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: N/A% — N/A
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.24 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 12th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 25.88% — the highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 0.65 per 100 million vehicle-miles — the lowest
• State-control highway miles: 2,477 — the lowest

Idaho

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.64 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 8th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.08% — 17th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.51 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 3rd lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.66% — 11th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.31 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 16th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 12,272 — 10th lowest

Illinois

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.92 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 14th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.34% — 23rd highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.02 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 25th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 4.82% — 17th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.52 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 23rd highest
• State-control highway miles: 42,169 — 13th highest

Indiana

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.45 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 14th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.76% — 10th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.96 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 24th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 4.24% — 20th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.19 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 10th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 28,445 — 23rd highest

Iowa

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.84 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 10th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.55% — 19th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.95 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 22nd lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 4.72% — 18th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.44 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 25th highest
• State-control highway miles: 22,918 — 22nd lowest

Kansas

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.27 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 21st highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.74% — 14th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.03 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 24th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.08% — 25th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.89 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 10th highest
• State-control highway miles: 24,037 — 24th lowest

Kentucky

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.19 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 24th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.80% — 16th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.26 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 11th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.32% — 16th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 2.14 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 3rd highest
• State-control highway miles: 62,346 — 8th highest

Louisiana

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.11 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 20th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.07% — 6th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.43 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 5th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 11.99% — 2nd highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 2.11 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 4th highest
• State-control highway miles: 40,154 — 14th highest

Maine

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.83 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 8th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.39% — 22nd highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.52 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 4th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.43% — 7th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.58 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 19th highest
• State-control highway miles: 17,467 — 16th lowest

Maryland

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.57 per 100 million vehicle-miles — the lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.24% — 23rd lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.98 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 25th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 6.94% — 9th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.40 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 22nd lowest
• State-control highway miles: 14,928 — 12th lowest

Massachusetts

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.95 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 15th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.04% — 20th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.58 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 8th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.99% — 23rd lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 0.68 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 2nd lowest
• State-control highway miles: 9,556 — 6th lowest

Michigan

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.82 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 5th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.00% — 8th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.03 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 23rd highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 7.79% — 8th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.55 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 20th highest
• State-control highway miles: 27,366 — 25th highest

Minnesota

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.69 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 2nd lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.89% — 17th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.40 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 2nd lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.20% — 24th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 0.99 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 4th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 29,176 — 22nd highest

Mississippi

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.81 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 5th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.49% — 20th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.43 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 6th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.13% — 25th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 2.16 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 2nd highest
• State-control highway miles: 28,310 — 24th highest

Missouri

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.02 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 17th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.55% — 9th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.30 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 9th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.03% — 24th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.52 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 21st highest
• State-control highway miles: 77,693 — 6th highest

Montana

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.84 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 4th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.32% — 24th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.79 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 14th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.74% — 13th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.99 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 6th highest
• State-control highway miles: 25,211 — 25th lowest

Nebraska

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.23 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 23rd highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.62% — 10th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.84 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 17th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.85% — 22nd highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.35 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 19th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 22,541 — 21st lowest

Nevada

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 2.19 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 3rd highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.18% — 2nd lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.08 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 19th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.48% — 17th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.10 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 7th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 13,509 — 11th lowest

New Hampshire

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.77 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 3rd lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.35% — 6th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.37 per 100 million vehicle-miles — the lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.16% — the lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.21 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 14th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 8,453 — 4th lowest

New Jersey

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.90 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 13th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.29% — 24th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.88 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 18th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 9.32% — 5th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 0.84 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 3rd lowest
• State-control highway miles: 8,551 — 5th lowest

New Mexico

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.29 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 20th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.81% — 9th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 2.15 per 100 million vehicle-miles — the highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.57% — 23rd highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.63 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 15th highest
• State-control highway miles: 29,430 — 21st highest

New York

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.83 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 7th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.73% — 11th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.91 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 19th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 9.39% — 3rd highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.17 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 9th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 38,157 — 15th highest

North Carolina

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.16 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 22nd lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.77% — 15th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.93 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 20th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.27% — 15th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.85 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 12th highest
• State-control highway miles: 173,653 — 2nd highest

North Dakota

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.04 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 19th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.38% — 7th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.53 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 5th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.98% — 2nd lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.41 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 22nd lowest
• State-control highway miles: 17,245 — 15th lowest

Ohio

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.85 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 11th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.17% — 16th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.83 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 15th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 4.56% — 19th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.50 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 24th highest
• State-control highway miles: 49,681 — 10th highest

Oklahoma

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.33 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 18th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.36% — 14th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.13 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 16th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 5.42% — 13th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.97 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 7th highest
• State-control highway miles: 30,407 — 18th highest

Oregon

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.63 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 9th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.66% — 11th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.10 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 18th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.88% — 21st lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.94 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 8th highest
• State-control highway miles: 18,460 — 18th lowest

Pennsylvania

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.83 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 9th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.03% — 7th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.06 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 22nd highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 6.13% — 12th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.62 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 17th highest
• State-control highway miles: 88,322 — 5th highest

Rhode Island

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.19 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 25th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.27% — 3rd lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.83 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 16th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.49% — 18th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.21 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 13th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 2,870 — 2nd lowest

South Carolina

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 2.92 per 100 million vehicle-miles — the highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.95% — 19th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.07 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 21st highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.13% — 3rd lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 2.09 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 5th highest
• State-control highway miles: 90,552 — 4th highest

South Dakota

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.25 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 22nd highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.44% — 8th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.08 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 20th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.14% — 4th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.76 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 14th highest
• State-control highway miles: 17,955 — 17th lowest

Tennessee

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.17 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 23rd lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.67% — 12th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.45 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 4th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.66% — 10th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.88 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 11th highest
• State-control highway miles: 37,746 — 17th highest

Texas

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.54 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 11th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.24% — 22nd lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.10 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 17th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.97% — 21st highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.89 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 9th highest
• State-control highway miles: 198,465 — the highest

Utah

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.98 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 16th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.30% — 4th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.78 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 13th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.69% — 20th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.03 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 6th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 16,023 — 14th lowest

Vermont

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.82 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 6th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.14% — 21st lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.75 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 12th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.37% — 6th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.20 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 12th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 5,998 — 3rd lowest

Virginia

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.20 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 24th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 0.35% — 5th lowest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.69 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 10th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.57% — 19th lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.52 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 22nd highest
• State-control highway miles: 128,989 — 3rd highest

Washington

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.81 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 4th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 4.10% — 4th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.58 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 6th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.92% — 22nd lowest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.62 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 17th highest
• State-control highway miles: 18,450 — 19th lowest

West Virginia

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.14 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 21st lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 3.44% — 5th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.95 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 21st lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 8.99% — 6th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 2.28 per 100 million vehicle-miles — the highest
• State-control highway miles: 71,054 — 7th highest

Wisconsin

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 0.89 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 12th lowest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 2.63% — 13th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 0.67 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 9th lowest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 5.23% — 14th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.39 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 21st lowest
• State-control highway miles: 29,806 — 19th highest

Wyoming

• Fatality rate, rural (2020): 1.35 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 17th highest
• Percent rural interstate mileage in poor condition: 1.58% — 18th highest
• Fatality rate, urban (2020): 1.37 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 7th highest
• Percent urban interstate mileage in poor condition: 6.70% — 10th highest
• Fatality rate, other (2020): 1.20 per 100 million vehicle-miles — 11th lowest
• State-control highway miles: 15,792 — 13th lowest