These 10 States Have the Most Car Accidents (Is Yours on the List?)

Have you ever driven in an area with your hands clenched in the steering wheel, knowing that people seem to drive extra aggressively or there’s no clear line of sight around the corner? Accidents happen everywhere, every day.

CARFAX released a survey that sheds some light on where those dangerous spots may be located. It ranked the states with the highest number of accidents per 1,000 registered vehicles in every state.

If you want to save money on car insurance or just keep your family safe by avoiding an accident, chances are good you’ll want to avoid these dangerous locations.

10. Tennessee

Tennessee drivers need to be cautious throughout the state since many of the accidents occurring here are within cities.

In Knoxville, Chapman Highway is a bustling, dangerous roadway. In Nashville, high accident risks occur near Hickory Hollow Parkway and Nolensville Pike. Major highways like I-40 and I-24 are also significant safety factors.

9. Indiana

In the heart of the country, Indiana is an important thoroughfare for trucks moving into and out of the manufacturing and agricultural areas of the country, which also increases the risks.

High speed on the two-lane stretches of I-65 is a noted concern, but other highways, such as I-80 and U.S. 41, are also worrisome.

8. New Jersey

New Jersey is a state where traffic is a daily issue, whether you’re commuting to New York or trying to navigate trucks moving from the state’s ports into the rest of the country.

Some of the most problematic roadways include Interstate 287, mainly due to its high traffic numbers, and Route 22, due to aggressive driving and bad visibility.

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7. Rhode Island

As small as Rhode Island is, it’s hard to imagine that it ranks so high in the states with the most car crashes, but there are a few reasons.

Poor road conditions coupled with bad winter weather are good starting points. Due to congestion and poor visibility, high-traffic areas, like I-95 at Exit 29 and Exit 18, are both noted as high-risk areas.

6. Alabama

Alabama has several prominent trucking routes used by companies traveling across the country, whether through one of the urban areas or the agricultural farmland.

The most dangerous roadway for crashes is U.S. Route 431, often called the “highway to hell” because of the lack of visibility and speeding drivers here.

5. North Carolina

North Carolina has a few treacherous mountain roads in the Great Smoky Mountains and some highly dense tourist areas, especially in the Outer Banks, during a summer weekend.

Yet, some of the most frequent spots for accidents include I-85 in Charlotte and I-95 throughout the state.

The state is also home to the “Tail of the Dragon” on U.S. 129, a noted twisting and curving 11-mile stretch that thrill seekers love to use to challenge their driving skills.

4. Louisiana

Louisiana is the next state on the list with the most car crashes, which may seem surprising to some since much of the state is rural.

However, there are a few key risk areas, including along Highway 90, which locals have called the “Killer Highway” due to the numerous fatal accidents there. I-10’s Twin Span Bridge and I-12 from Baton Rouge to Slidell are also hot spots for accidents.

3. South Carolina

Whether it’s the area of Wade Hampton Blvd. near Freebird Blvd. (U.S. 29 between Greenville and Spartanburg) or one of the highways in South Carolina, accidents happen often in this state. Most of the accidents here seem to relate to speeding.

Highway 501, U.S. Route 17, and State Route 544 tend to be some of the worst as these are larger roadways with dense traffic, with some near the waterfront area.

2. Kentucky

Kentucky certainly is a beautiful state and seems rather rural at first glance. However, it comes in second in the number of accidents occurring on the state’s streets.

Some particularly risky locations include the short stretch of I-65 to U.S. 60 and the 17-mile Man o’ War Blvd. in Lexington.

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1. Georgia

Georgia may be a peach of a place with Southern hospitality but don’t expect that to extend to the roads in this state.

As the state with the most car accidents, some of Georgia’s most dangerous roads include its massive freeway system around Atlanta, including I-85, I-75, and I-20.

Other hazardous roads include State Highway 138 in Riverdale, U.S. 278 in Lithia Springs, and State Route 34 in Newnan.

Bottom line

If you're driving out of state and worried about the dangerous roads you may encounter, here are a few things to remember.

First, most states have fantastic interstate camera systems that can give you a heads-up on a problem before you encounter it. Second, GPS-based driving apps like Waze offer alternate routes to avoid traffic and construction.

Finally, if you do have an accident, a good money move for car owners is to make sure you're fully covered.

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