Massachusetts Drivers Are Considered The Safest In The Country

Massachusetts drivers are reported as the safest drivers in the U.S. along with another New England state being the 5th safest in the nation.

As reported by Thenewportbuzz, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that over 30,000 people are killed due to car accidents in the U.S. $44 billion is lost in medical and work costs as of 2013. Although the early-twentieth century was fatal with car accidents, today driving is the safest it is has ever been.

When Ford first distributed the Model T, there were historically high numbers related to fatal car accidents. This increase was due to the everyday American being able to afford a vehicle, which was during the 1920s and 1930s.

The following round out the Top 10 U.S. states with the safest drivers!

1. Massachusetts

2. Washington D.C.

3. New York

4. New Jersey

5. Rhode Island

6. Washington State

7. Connecticut

8. Illinois

9. Hawaii

10. California

Since then there have been advances in preventing live threatening car accidents. During 1968, the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard law made sure that all vehicles, besides buses, had seatbelt. In 1984, states started requiring that passengers wear seatbelts. Once 1991 came around, the U.S. Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act made is necessary for cars and trucks that were built after 1998 to have airbags for front seat passengers.

There are many factors that can play into driving safety among the states. For example, the rurality of the areas, speed limits and the functionality of local public transportation. The highest fatality rates actually have the highest speed limits. Also, the most fatal areas are less urbanized and more sprawling. In rural and low-income areas, people tend to drive older cars. These areas have a weak crash protection.

Additional reporting by Michaela Bottino