Wyoming Leads Nation with Highest Motor Vehicle Fatality Rate

November 19, 2010

Wyoming has the unfortunate record of having the highest rates of motor vehicle fatalities per 100,000 people, with a rate of 24.6, according the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis.

According to the recent report, there were 30,797 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2009, in which 33,808 deaths occurred. This resulted in a national motor vehicle death rate of 11 deaths per 100,000 people.

Along with Wyoming, Mississippi (23.7), Montana (22.7), Arkansas (20.2) and Oklahoma (20.0) also had high rates. States with the lowest rates included the District of Columbia had the lowest rate of 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people, Massachusetts (5.1), New York (5.9) and Connecticut (6.3).

Wyoming’s deaths primarily occurred in SUVs and pickups, the report said, but had the lowest percentage of deaths involving car occupants (27 percent). The highest percentage of motorcycle deaths occurred in Hawaii (28 percent), and the highest percentage of pedestrian deaths occurred in D.C. (48 percent).

Nationwide, 53 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2009 occurred in single-vehicle crashes. The highest proportion of single-vehicle crashes occurred in Wyoming (70 percent) and South Dakota (71 percent).

To view the full report, visit www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2009/statebystate.html.

Source: IIHS