Surprising Results: North Dakota’s Position in Elderly Road Accident Deaths

With snow and ice making its way into the region, we all need to stand back and take a look at how we are driving. Let's face it...many of us could use a lot of work, especially our young drivers! A new study has revealed the states where the lowest percentage of citizens over the age of 65 are killed in road accidents. The overall number of over 65s who died in crashes in the US between 2017 and 2021 amounts to an overwhelming 65,291, making it the age bracket with the second-highest amount of road fatalities, with 25-30s taking the top spot with 67,211 deaths.

Research carried out by personal injury law firm Bader Scott analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2017-2021 to determine which states have the lowest percentage of elderly deaths in road accidents.

Louisiana places first, with citizens over the age of 65 accounting for 13.57% of road accident fatalities. Louisiana has a total of 7,743 deaths due to road accidents, with older drivers representing 1,051.

In second place is New Mexico, which experienced 3,842 road accident deaths in total; over 65s make up 13.72% of this, with 527 elderly deaths overall – the second lowest percentage in the country.

Texas ranks third, with drivers over the age of 65 representing 13.76% of road accident fatalities. Due to its large population, Texas obtained a comparatively high number of total road accident deaths with a staggering 37,085 overall – however, people over the age of 65 accounted for just 1,051 of these fatalities.

In fourth place is North Dakota, where people aged over 65 made up 14.03% of road accident fatalities. North Dakota saw a total of just 1,219 deaths, with 171 of these people being over the age of 65.

Alaska comes in fifth place, with drivers over the age of 65 contributing to 14.08% of road fatalities. The state has just 689 deaths in total, where 97 deaths are over 65 years of age.

In sixth place is Wyoming, with 14.09% of road accident deaths involving people over the age of 65. With an overall death toll for road accidents being 1,235, older drivers make up 174 of these.

Alabama is in seventh place, with over 65s contributing to 15.27% of road fatalities. Overall, the state experienced 9,219 deaths in total, and 1,408 of these deaths were accounted for by older drivers.

Coming in at eighth is South Carolina, with over 65-year-olds making up 15.35% of road accident fatalities. The state has an overall road death toll of 9,747, with 1,496 of these deaths being over the age of 65.

In ninth place is Mississippi, where 15.46% of their road accident fatalities involve drivers over the age of 65. Kansas has a total of 6,676 road fatalities, and older drivers contribute to 1,032 of these.

Placing tenth is Maryland, where older drivers account for 15.96% of road fatalities. Out of 5,199 total road accident deaths, 830 involved drivers aged 65 and over.

Maine is the most dangerous state for older drivers, with drivers aged 65 and over accounting for only 24.58% of deaths from road accidents.

So, from the TV show from way back in the day, let's be careful out there!

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