New Map Shows Most Dangerous State for DriversMen's JournalMatt HladikWed, September 9, 2026 at 5:24 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleNew Map Shows Most Dangerous State for DriversDriving is the most popular method of travel for Americans, with millions of people hitting the road every day without a second thought.However, any time you get behind the wheel, you must be aware of the risks. A new study from Michigan personal injury law firm Ravid & Associates gives drivers a glimpse into which states are safer than others for drivers.Using data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2024, Ravid & Associates ranked all 50 states across five key metrics to come up with a "Danger Score" for each.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe "Danger Score" was calculated using fatalities per 100,000 population (30%), fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (25%), speeding involvement in crash deaths (15%), share of fatally injured drivers who were impaired by alcohol (15%) and seat belt use (15%).The most dangerous state for drivers might surprise youIt's not New York (which is actually the third-safest) or Florida or California, but Montana, one of the least densely populated states in the country, with an overall "Danger Score" of 90.2.Montana did not rank No. 1 in any of the aforementioned categories, but did rank near the top in the first four and had the fourth-lowest percentage of seat belt use.In total, 39,254 people were killed in car accidents in 2024, a national fatality rate of 11.5 deaths per 100,000 residents.The 10 most dangerous driving states, per "Danger Score"Montana – 90.2South Carolina – 85.8Wyoming – 79.2Arizona – 78.3Arkansas – 76.5Oklahoma – 76.2New Mexico – 73.0Texas – 70.2Mississippi – 69.7South Dakota – 68.7AdvertisementAdvertisementOn the flip side, Minnesota was named the safest driving state with a score of 16.2, followed by New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Utah. Rhode Island, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa round out the top 10 safest list.You can read through the full study from Ravid & Associates hereThis story was originally published by Men's Journal on Sep 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.