Fewer Fatalities on America’s Roads
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Fewer Fatalities on America’s Roads

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Road safety in most U.S. states has improved substantially in the past few years, according to a report from Michael Sivak of The University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute published this month.

The report analyzed fatality rates between 2005 and 2012 in each U.S. state and in the District of Columbia, based on both the distance driven and on the population in each state.

Related: Hazardous Roads Ahead for US Highways

Overall, road fatality rates per distance driven dropped 22.2 percent in during that period, while road fatality rates per population fell 27.1 percent. The rates dropped the most in D.C. and in Nevada, but increased the most in North Dakota and in Vermont.

The report also found that road safety was best in D.C. and in Massachusetts in 2012, based on both measures. It was worst in West Virginia and in South Carolina in terms of the fatality rate per distance driven, and in North Dakota and Wyoming in terms of the fatality rate per population.

Here are the five states with the lowest fatality rates per distance driven:

  1. District of Columbia
  2. Massachusetts
  3. Minnesota
  4. Connecticut
  5. Washington

Related: Ten States with the Worst Highway Spending Woes

And here are the five state with the highest fatality rates per distance driven:

  1. West Virginia
  2. South Carolina
  3. Montana
  4. North Dakota
  5. Arkansas

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