There were 39,345 fatalities on U.S. roads in 2024, a figure that’s 3.8% down on 2023 numbers. Big states such as California, Texas, and Florida typically show the highest number of motor vehicle fatalities due to having the largest populations. But what about those states at the other end of the accident scale?
In this study, we’ll pinpoint the states featuring the lowest rates of motor vehicle fatalities due to drunk driving, speeding, and vehicle occupants not wearing their seatbelts. And we’ll consider some of the reasons why those states are doing so much better on safety than others.
The Least Accident-Prone States in the USA
Before we consider specific motor vehicle accident contributory factors, let’s look at the overall list of the least accident-prone states in the U.S. for motor vehicle fatalities.
Least Accident-Prone States for Motor Vehicle Fatalities
After scrutinizing 2023 national traffic fatality data, we can confirm the ten U.S. states and districts that featured the lowest number of motor vehicle deaths. The District of Columbia, reporting just 44 motor vehicle fatalities, was the jurisdiction with the fewest traffic-related deaths in the country.
It was followed closely by Alaska (60 fatalities) and Vermont (69), both states with small populations and unique geographic challenges. Other states ranking among the ten with the least motor vehicle deaths in the U.S. include Rhode Island (71), Hawaii (93), and North Dakota (106), all of which benefit from comparatively uncongested roadways and strong traffic safety initiatives.
New Hampshire (130 fatalities), Delaware (135), Maine (135), and South Dakota (140) round out the rest of the list, with each keeping motor vehicle fatality numbers down despite regional and seasonal driving hazards. Interestingly, when we compare traffic safety across regions, the Northeast consistently outperforms the South, with fewer road deaths despite harsh winters and older infrastructure.
Factors like population size and traffic volume certainly influence these rankings, but that’s far from the whole story. The consistently low fatality rates these states present are also due to a combination of many of the following: effective public awareness campaigns, responsive emergency services, roads that are in good condition, and strict enforcement of road safety laws. As such, the states showing low numbers offer a potentially useful blueprint for states struggling with high motor vehicle fatalities across the U.S.
To break down the data that we used to build the overall ranking, let’s narrow our focus and consider the individual factors that led to the majority of 2023’s motor vehicle deaths in the U.S., starting with drunk driving.
Drunk Driving Fatalities
Of the states and districts that featured the lowest overall motor vehicle fatalities in 2023, those deaths were still significantly due to drunk driving. Despite having fewer total crashes, these regions continue to face serious challenges when it comes to keeping impaired drivers off the road.
For example, the District of Columbia, which reported the lowest total traffic deaths in the country (44), 14 of those deaths (nearly one-third) involve drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.
Similarly, Hawaii and Delaware each reported 39 alcohol-related fatalities, despite their relatively low total fatality counts (93 and 135, respectively) and their use of ignition interlock laws and zero-tolerance policies. Other states like South Dakota (38 drunk driving deaths), North Dakota (38), and Maine (37) exhibited similar trends. This confirms that drunk driving remains a consistent and deadly factor, even when a state features a comparatively small population and uncongested roadways
It also suggests that, if a state has successfully managed to reduce total crash fatalities but not the proportion of drunk driver fatalities, it may need to increase its push on public awareness campaigns, educating young drivers, roadside enforcement, and accessible alternatives to driving under the influence.
Speeding Fatalities
Although these 10 states and districts reported some of the lowest total motor vehicle fatalities in the U.S. during 2023, a closer look at the data reveals that speeding (as with drunk driving) remains a major contributor to deadly crashes. Again, this is despite the state having comparatively fewer drivers and less traffic congestion.
A standout example is Hawaii, with 54 of its 93 traffic deaths due to speeding. That means more than half of all road fatalities in the state were speed-related. Rhode Island (32 out of 71 deaths), Delaware (45 of 135), and the District of Columbia (16 of 44) also reported notably high proportions of speeding-related traffic deaths. Even in North Dakota and South Dakota, where total fatalities remained relatively low, speeding accounted for a combined 58 lives lost.
These numbers confirm a clear pattern: low overall crash totals don’t necessarily mean safe roads when it comes to driver behavior. In many of the states showing low-accident rates, speeding is still a leading, preventable cause of fatal accidents. And it’s still the case that the states in question need to improve their efforts around enforcement, education, and safety-conscious infrastructure. All deaths are tragedies, even in small numbers.
Unbelted Fatalities
While U.S. seatbelt laws and public safety campaigns have definitely evolved, unrestrained motor vehicle fatalities are still a major concern, even in states with relatively low overall crash death numbers. Our analysis of 2023 data reveals the 10 U.S. states and districts that featured the lowest number of unrestrained traffic deaths, pinpointing the areas where seatbelt use would appear to be more prevalent or where safety interventions are particularly effective.
Once again topping a list, the District of Columbia reported just 13 deaths due to a lack of seatbelt, with Alaska (14) and Hawaii (15) close behind. These low numbers may reflect a number of key contributory measures: successful public awareness efforts, consistent law enforcement, and consistently high seatbelt use. States like Rhode Island (20), Vermont (25), and Delaware (32) also showed relatively low totals.
Even in rural or less populated states such as North Dakota (33), New Hampshire (42), Wyoming (48), and South Dakota (50), where deaths due to a lack of a seatbelt are often more common due to long-distance travel and higher speeds, the numbers remained much lower than the national average. These findings suggest that continued emphasis on seatbelt education and effective law enforcement can save lives, regardless of geography or population size.
Comparing Motor Vehicle Fatalities With Road Standards
When comparing motor vehicle fatality rates with road quality rankings, we can see a noticeable contrast between the top and bottom states. Among the 10 states with the highest number of traffic fatalities, the likes of Texas (#33 in road quality), California (#43), Florida (#21), and Arizona (#39) rank poorly for road infrastructure, which may contribute to high fatality counts. And yet, Tennessee, which ranks #7 for road quality, still reports over 1,300 fatalities. This suggests that factors beyond road conditions, such as speeding, population growth, or impaired driving, also heavily influence crash rates.
That said, the 10 states with the lowest number of motor vehicle deaths do generally rank much higher for road quality. For example, South Dakota (#2), Vermont (#5), and North Dakota (#10) all appear in the top 10 for road conditions, with all reporting fewer than 150 annual fatalities. This trend implies a link between well-maintained roads and improved driver safety (although factors such as lower population density, less congested traffic, and better traffic law enforcement are also key). So, while road quality isn’t the only factor, it’s clearly an important piece of the traffic safety puzzle.
Improving Accident Fatality Numbers
With nearly 40,000 dead in the U.S. in 2024 due to motor vehicle accidents, the country urgently needs to take steps to save lives. And while large states like California, Texas, and Florida tend to report the highest crash death counts due to their population size, our study data also reveals valuable insights from states with comparatively low fatality numbers.
In 2023, the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Vermont reported the fewest motor vehicle deaths in the nation (other low-fatality states included Rhode Island, Hawaii, and North Dakota). Most of these states combine small populations with relatively strong traffic and pedestrian infrastructure and effective traffic enforcement policies. Yet even among such safer states, challenges remain: drunk driving and speeding still kill many people every year, underscoring an unwavering need for staunch prevention efforts.
Speeding was particularly deadly in Hawaii and Rhode Island, where it accounted for over 45% of total traffic deaths. Alcohol-related fatalities were also stubbornly high across many low-fatality states, with South Dakota, Maine, and Delaware all reporting over one in four traffic deaths due to alcohol. On a more positive note, states like D.C., Alaska, and Hawaii reported fewer unrestrained occupant fatalities, which suggests that strong seatbelt enforcement can make a big difference.
❝These numbers highlight a clear pattern: lower overall crash totals don’t necessarily mean safer roads when it comes to driver behavior.❞
And road quality can be a hugely important factor, as a comparison between crash death rates and road quality confirms. States with better roads (South Dakota (#2 in road quality), Vermont (#5), and North Dakota (#10)) have comparatively fewer fatalities. In contrast, many of the deadliest traffic accident states (California (#43), Texas (#33), and Arizona (#39)) also rank poorly for road conditions. While factors like population density, driver behavior, and vehicle miles traveled certainly contribute, road condition and infrastructure also play key traffic safety roles.
Ultimately, these findings offer a roadmap for prevention: well-maintained roads, consistent law enforcement, and ongoing public awareness can reduce fatalities, even in geographically diverse states. By learning from what’s working in lower-fatality states, high-fatality states can evolve their practices and save lives on the road.
At Demayo Law Offices, we put people over profits. If you’ve been involved in a traffic accident and are looking for help, we can evaluate your case today, free of charge. Call now.
Data Sources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. News
