North Carolina One of the Country’s “Worst Driving” States

By Warren & Kallianos, PLLC | January 15, 2015

A recent study released by online insurance website “Car Insurance Comparison.Com” confirms what many people traveling on the state’s roads already know: North Carolina has some of the worst driving conditions in the country. Not only are the state’s drivers notoriously aggressive and “lead-footed,” but the congestion on interstates and highways, particularly around large metropolitan areas like Charlotte and the “Research Triangle” of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill (also the homes of the state’s largest universities), as well as an abundance of single-lane surface streets in rural areas and other factors combine to make a perfect storm of driving conditions ripe for car accidents and injuries.

The Criteria

The recent survey judged states around the country based upon a number of criteria to judge their overall road safety. The study didn’t look at road infrastructure or other subjective data, instead judging each state (and the District of Columbia) on the same criteria, including:

  • Fatal car and truck accidents per 100 million roadway miles traveled.
  • Number of drunk driving arrests.
  • Number of citations for failing to obey traffic signals, seat belt violations or for careless/reckless driving.
  • Number of speeding tickets issued within the state’s borders.

Aggravating Factors

Of course, those few criteria aren’t the complete picture of what makes many of North Carolina’s roadways dangerous places to be. The state also has a high number of distracted driving accidents; this is in spite of a legislative ban on texting and bans on handheld and hands-free cell phone use for some drivers (bus drivers and novice drivers).

In addition, the state’s economic recovery and rapid urban development have created another dangerous situation, a higher number of interactions between pedestrians and bicyclists and vehicles. The number of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes has climbed around the state in recent years, particularly in the Queen City metro area. These accidents almost always result in serious injuries to those outside the vehicle, and most often occur in crosswalks, along sidewalks and in poorly lit areas where distracted and drunk drivers don’t take proper precautions.

Are You a Victim?

Are you a victim of a distracted, drunk, texting or reckless driver on a North Carolina roadway? Have you been injured in an auto accident because of the negligent or careless actions of another person? Would you like more information about hold the at-fault driver accountable for your injuries or those to a loved one? If so, speak with an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney today.

Posted in Law, Personal Injury Claims, Traffic Accident, Wrongful Death and tagged ,