The world's roads are nowhere near as safe as we'd like them to be. An increasing number of cars, high traffic density, poor road infrastructure, and reckless driving habits contribute to staggering car accident rates, leading to approximately 1.3 million deaths and more than 50 million people injured every year, many of them left with lifelong medical difficulties.
However, road safety is not the same in all parts of the world, meaning some areas definitely more dangerous than others when it comes to traffic risks. Knowing which regions are more prone to vehicle accidents can help road users become more aware of the dangers they expose themselves to and prompt them to take the necessary measures to stay safe behind the wheel.
The United States presents major discrepancies between states in terms of car crash rates, be it the total number of fatal accidents, type of motor vehicle crashes, alcohol involvement, or restraint use. As expected, states with the highest resident population such as Texas, California, and Florida also register higher numbers of fatal car crashes. However, there are numerous other factors at play that determine a state's ranking.
North Dakota also registers a relatively high number of car accidents and casualties, despite being less populated than other states in the country. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System reveals that North Dakota ranked 35th on the chart for the deadliest states in the USA for car crashes, with 85 fatal crashes and 101 deaths reported in 2021, and a population of 774,948 residents.
Therefore, regional trends should be observed in order to explain the high incidence of traffic accidents in these areas. In North Dakota's case, the concerning traffic accident rates seem to be caused by a combination of factors such as a larger number of rural roads and inadequate road infrastructure in certain areas. Traffic participants are three times more likely to be involved in a car crash on a rural road than in an urban area. Apart from traffic conditions, other factors such as not wearing a seat belt, driving under the influence of alcohol and aggressive driving also contribute significantly to fatal car crashes in North Dakota.
According to North Dakota car accident lawyer Jim Nostdahl of the law firm Pringle & Herigstad, P.C., car crashes can have a huge impact on victims, financially, physically, and emotionally. That's why it's extremely important for people to understand how these accidents happen and to know exactly what to do if they are involved in such an unfortunate event. Acting quickly, getting immediate medical attention, gathering evidence at the scene of the accident and receiving quality legal representation are the factors that can make a huge difference to one's health and well-being.
Ultimately, all road users should take adequate precautions to ensure safety while on the road, regardless of state or region.
