The Most Dangerous and Safest States for Young Drivers Revealed

The Most Dangerous and Safest States for Young Drivers Revealed

• Mississippi, New Mexico, and Arkansas show the highest fatal crash rates across all generations.
• New study ranks states by driver safety, analyzing fatal crash data and comparing risks across different generations.
• Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York stand out as the safest states for drivers of every generation, from the Silent Generation to Generation Z.

 

A new study by High Rise Financial, a pre-settlement legal funding company, has identified the most and least dangerous states for drivers of each generation based on the most recent five years of fatal crash data.

 

By mapping drivers to their generational groups, the study analyzed crash involvement rates per 100,000 licensed drivers.

 

The findings rank states according to the highest and lowest risks for each generation, providing valuable insights into regional differences in driver safety.

 

Young drivers, particularly those from Generation Z, face significant risks on the road, with some states reporting alarmingly high fatal crash rates.

 

Limited experience behind the wheel, a greater likelihood of engaging in distracted driving—such as texting or using social media—and a tendency toward riskier behaviors like speeding or driving under the influence all contribute to these heightened dangers.

 

Additionally, road conditions, traffic laws, and enforcement vary widely between states, further impacting the safety of Gen Z drivers.

 

Identifying which states pose the highest risks for young drivers can help policymakers, educators, and parents implement targeted strategies, from stricter graduated licensing programs to enhanced driver education initiatives that emphasize defensive driving and hazard awareness.

 

For Generation Z drivers (born 1997–2010), New Mexico ranks as the most dangerous state, with 304 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. Mississippi (272) and Arkansas (258) follow closely, indicating significant risks for younger drivers in these regions.

Montana (251) and Kentucky (247) complete the top five, reflecting high fatal crash involvement rates. These states represent areas where additional safety measures are urgently needed to protect Generation Z drivers on the road.

In contrast, the least dangerous states for Generation Z drivers include Massachusetts, with 74 fatal crashes per 100,000 license holders, followed by Rhode Island (77) and New Jersey (81).

New York (87) and New Hampshire (89) also offer much safer driving environments, with lower risks for younger drivers. Their effective road safety measures have contributed to significantly reducing fatal crash rates for Generation Z.

States with the highest and lowest risk for drivers of Generation Z:

 

Most dangerous states				Least dangerous states
Rank	State	Drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100k license holders		Rank	State	Drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100k license holders
1.	New Mexico	304		1.	Massachusetts	74
2.	Mississippi	272		2.	Rhode Island	77
3.	Arkansas	258		3.	New Jersey	81
4.	Montana	251		4.	New York	87
5.	Kentucky	247		5.	New Hampshire	89

 

For Millennial drivers (born 1981–1996), Mississippi ranks as the most dangerous state, with a staggering 304 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. New Mexico (261) and South Carolina (258) follow closely, showing high-risk levels for Millennial drivers in these states.

West Virginia (235) and Arkansas (232) complete the top five, signaling significant concerns about driver safety for this generation. These states highlight areas where targeted safety measures are needed to reduce crash involvement and protect Millennial drivers.

On the other hand, the safest states for Millennial drivers include Massachusetts, where only 60 fatal crashes per 100,000 license holders occur. Rhode Island (68) and New York (74) also stand out as much safer states for this generation.

New Hampshire and Washington tie for fourth place, each with 80 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers, contributing to a much safer driving environment. New Jersey (86) rounds out the top five, offering relatively safer conditions for Millennial drivers compared to other regions.

States with the highest and lowest risk for drivers of the Millennial generation:

 

For drivers of Generation X (born 1965–1980), the most dangerous states are led by Mississippi, with a striking 229 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. Wyoming (224) and South Carolina (215) follow closely, indicating heightened risks for drivers in these states.

 

Oklahoma (213) and Arkansas (211) complete the top five, showing concerning rates of fatal crashes among Generation X drivers. These states represent areas where targeted safety efforts are needed to reduce crash involvement and protect this age group.

On the other hand, the least dangerous states for Generation X drivers include Massachusetts, where just 48 fatal crashes per 100,000 license holders occur. New York (54) and Rhode Island (57) also rank among the safest, with relatively low crash rates for this generation.

New Jersey (62) and Hawaii (67) follow, reflecting a much safer driving environment for Generation X compared to the national average (126). These states highlight effective efforts in reducing fatal crashes and improving road safety for drivers.

States with the highest and lowest risk for drivers of Generation X:

 

For drivers of the Baby Boom Generation (born 1946-1964), the most dangerous states include Mississippi, which leads with 156 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. Oklahoma (144) and Wyoming(139) follow closely behind, indicating high risks for older drivers in these areas.

Arkansas (135) and Kentucky (129) also rank high, reflecting concerning crash involvement rates for Baby Boomers. These states show a clear need for better safety measures and programs to protect older drivers from fatal crashes.

On the other hand, the safest states for Baby Boom drivers are Rhode Island, with only 33 fatal crashes per 100,000 license holders, followed by Massachusetts (39) and New York (40). These states are among the safest for older drivers, with significantly lower crash rates.

Connecticut and New Jersey tie for fourth place, each reporting 50 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers, while Washington rounds out the top five safest states with a rate of 53. These areas provide relatively safer environments for Baby Boomer drivers.

States with the highest and lowest risk for drivers of the Baby Boom Generation:

The most dangerous states for drivers of The Silent Generation (born 1928–1945) include Kentucky, which ranks first with 163 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. Other high-risk states include Oklahoma (151), West Virginia (143), and North Dakota (137).

These states all have significantly higher rates of fatal crashes involving older drivers, highlighting regions where increased safety measures may be needed to protect senior drivers. Mississippi and New Mexico tie for fifth place, with both states reporting 136 fatal crashes per 100,000 license holders.

On the other hand, the least dangerous states for drivers of The Silent Generation include New York, where only 40 fatal crashes per 100,000 license holders occur.

Rhode Island (41), Hawaii (49), and Massachusetts (53) also rank as some of the safest states for this generation, with significantly lower rates of fatal crashes compared to the national average. Connecticut (56) follows closely, further demonstrating that these states offer relatively safer driving environments for old drivers.

States with the highest and lowest risk for drivers of The Silent Generation:

 

A spokesperson from High Rise Financial commented on the findings:

“Understanding the risks different generations face on the road is crucial for shaping targeted safety measures. Older drivers, particularly from the Silent and Baby Boomer generations, would benefit from age-specific initiatives like improved road infrastructure, health assessments, and tailored education programs to address challenges such as vision impairment and slower reaction times.

“For younger drivers, such as Millennials and Generation Z, promoting safe driving habits, stricter training, and utilizing technology like collision avoidance systems can help reduce crash rates.

“Additionally, addressing distracted driving through public awareness campaigns can reduce risky behavior across all age groups. By focusing on these findings, policymakers can better allocate resources to protect the most vulnerable drivers.”

story credit: https://highriselegalfunding.com –

Sources:

• Fatality and injury reporting system: https://cdan.dot.gov/query

• Licensed drivers, by state, sex, and age group: https://datahub.transportation.gov/Roadways-and-Bridges/Licensed-Drivers-by-state-gender-and-age-group/xfkb-3bxx/about_data

Methodology:

Data on drivers involved in fatal crashes from 2018 to 2022 were collected and mapped to their generational groups based on their age at the time of the crash. The report year and each driver’s age were used to categorize them into the appropriate generation.

The data was then grouped by generation to identify trends. To make the results easier to compare, the figures were adjusted per 100,000 licensed drivers, providing a clearer view of crash involvement rates for each generation.

Finally, the states were ranked to determine which posed the highest risk and which were the safest for drivers of each generation.