10 Deadliest States for Winter Driving
Clearsurance.com recently published a study on the states with the most deadly winter crashes. Wyoming tops the list.
Wyoming has mountains where snow falls every month, prairies where winds can turn even small amounts of snow into blizzard-like conditions, and hills where even a little snow can make roads slippery.
Worst States to Drive in the Winter
The worst states for winter driving are as follows:
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- Vermont
- Alaska
- Montana
- Maine
- Iowa
- South Dakota
- Michigan
Each of these states is in the northern U.S. The farther south a state is, the lower the risk of wintry conditions drivers face.
Michigan, number 10 on the list, averages 51 inches of snowfall a year, and areas that get lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan see even higher averages. Drivers have no choice but to drive in sub-optimal conditions just to live a normal life. Michigan car insurance is essential to protect these drivers financially.
Unique Winter Driving Conditions
South Dakota drivers face frigid conditions that can further increase the risks of winter driving. With an average low of 0 degrees in January, any precipitation can make roads slippery.
Drivers in Maine typically experience 71 inches of snow each winter. Heavy snowfall can build up on roadways faster than road crews can plow.
Alaska is a huge state, but it has very few roads. Even still, it is one of the most dangerous states for winter driving because it gets a lot of snow, up to 74 inches on average, each winter.
Vermont averages 81 inches of snow each year, earning it the nickname “America’s Winter Playground.” The roads are anything but a playground, though, and drivers must understand the risks and drive with extreme caution.
Freezing rain is a problem for Nebraska Drivers and one reason winter driving is so dangerous.
U.S. Winter Driving Stats
Crashes can be expensive. Even with insurance, drivers often have to pay a car insurance deductible. Avoiding an accident not only saves drivers money, but it also saves them stress.
Nearly 14% of weather-related crashes involve snow or sleet as a contributing factor. Since Southern states rarely, if ever, face winter conditions, this statistic shows how much higher the risk of a fatal crash is when driving in winter conditions.
Over 500 fatal crashes happen on wintery roads each winter. Some winters are even worse because of black ice and winter storms.
On average, 4.3 individuals out of one million are involved in fatal crashes each winter. Michigan, number 10 on Clearsurance.com’s list, has a rate of 7.7 fatalities per million residents, and Wyoming, number one on the list, has a rate of more than 34 fatalities per million residents. These rates are far higher than the national average.
Safe Driving Tips
Drivers should pack an emergency kit so that if they are stranded in winter conditions, they’ll have what they need to survive and be comfortable. Blankets, first aid supplies, snacks, and water are foundational to a winter emergency kit.
Melanie Musson, a nationally recognized car insurance expert with Clearsurance.com, cautions, “Drivers need to take extra time in winter conditions. Running late can lead drivers to follow too closely and stop too late. Leaving early can help drivers leave space and time for safe driving.”
Distracted driving is a problem even in the best conditions, but it can be even more dangerous on slick roads. Drivers should pay full attention to the road.
Winter tires are an excellent option for maintaining traction. Softer rubber grips ice and slush better than stiffer all-season tires.
Read Clearsurance.com’s entire report here: 10 States With the Most Fatal Winter Crashes.