Top 10 States With The Worst Drivers

Last Tuesday, I watched a guy in a red Subaru make a left turn from the right lane while texting, eating a hamburger, and somehow not making eye contact with anyone. In that moment, I thought to myself: "Yep, this state's on the worst drivers list this year."

And honestly, it got me curious. Which states are truly crawling with the worst drivers in America? We dug into crash data, insurance reports, and general bad habits behind the wheel.

What we found might surprise you — or maybe not at all. Buckle up, because people are literally crashing as we speak.

Why Do Some States Produce Such Terrible Drivers?

Population density, weather, road infrastructure, and plain old attitudes all play a role. Some states have drivers who speed like they're late for a wedding every single day.

Others have drivers who treat stop signs like gentle suggestions rather than actual laws. Either way, the numbers don't lie.

The Top 10 States With The Worst Drivers

10. Georgia

Atlanta traffic is already legendary for being chaotic, and Georgia ranks low on defensive driving scores. Drivers here love running red lights — and we mean really love it.

Insurance premiums in Georgia reflect that reckless energy pretty clearly.

9. Missouri

Missouri may surprise some folks, but the state has an alarming rate of fatal crashes per capita. Speeding is practically a cultural tradition here.

Add in plenty of rural highways with limited oversight, and you've got yourself a recipe for trouble.

10 States with the Worst Drivers [2020 Study]

8. New York

Okay, New York City's crowding doesn't help anyone's sanity, but this isn't just about Manhattan. The state has consistently high crash and violation rates overall.

Between taxi drivers, delivery cyclists, and regular commuters, everyone's racing. Relax, people.

7. Texas

Texas has massive highways, ridiculous speed limits, and a whole lot of attitude. You think I'm exaggerating? Try merging onto I-45 in Houston during rush hour.

Texting while driving violations have skyrocketed, too. (You guys need to put the phone down, seriously.)

6. Louisiana

Louisiana's roads are rough, but the drivers aren't any smoother. The state ranks poorly in almost every insurance safety ranking we found.

Weather-related crashes are common, but so are completely avoidable ones caused by bad decisions.

Top 10 States With the Worst Drivers

5. New Jersey

New Jersey drivers have a reputation that precedes them — and honestly, it's mostly earned. Aggressive lane changes and tailgating are practically national pastimes here.

Of course, people in every other state will complain about Jersey drivers. Funny how that regional rivalry works, right?

4. Florida

Florida is chaotic in general, and behind the wheel? It's a different level of wild. The state consistently leads in careless and distracted driving incidents.

Between retirees going ten under the limit and teenagers burning rubber, the contrast is absurd. It's never boring, though.

3. California

California's congested roads and long commutes produce some of the most impatient drivers in the nation. Ramp surfing, cutting people off, and tailgating? All too common.

Throw in legal distractions like smartphones and autopilot complacency, and you understand why crashes stay high.

Top 10 States For Worst Drivers at Lauren Murphy blog

2. Colorado

Colorado drivers ranked alarming high for speed violations and failure-to-yield incidents in recent annual studies. Mountain roads add extra danger on top of already risky behavior.

Being scenic doesn't mean drivers are cautious. Even with gorgeous views, people still can't keep their eyes properly focused on the road.

1. Massachusetts

Massachusetts takes the number one spot with what feels like Olympic-level bad driving. Actually registered to the state, this shouldn't shock anyone who's ever sat in Boston traffic.

Aggressive driving, poor lane discipline, speed violations, and low safety scores all point in the same direction. To be completely honest, the only thing state drivers offer to other road users is terror.

So… Is Your State on the List?

If it is, don't take it too personally — at least not all of it. The problem usually comes from how car culture develops state by state, along with traffic laws and enforcement habits.

Still, there's a funny upside: knowing you're aware is the first fix toward driving more safely. So the next time you're on the road, maybe skip the hamburger and pick up your eyes.

And hey — if your state made this list, consider it a gentle nudge rather than a judgment. Every terrible driver started with one completely average, normal commute.