Are Men or Women More Dangerous on the Road?

By Larson Law | October 1, 2017

Battle of the Sexes: Are Men or Women More Dangerous on the Road?

There’s an old, sexist trope that says that women are terrible drivers. But in North Dakota, it seems like the ladies have been vindicated. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that men are responsible for the most fatal traffic accidents in North Dakota – by a lot.

In 2014 and 2015, male drivers were involved in 82.7 percent of fatal crashes in North Dakota. In fact, North Dakota was at the top of the list for number of crashes involving male drivers. South Dakota was right behind it, with 82 percent of male drivers involved in fatal crashes. Other states in the top 10 for fatal accidents involving male drivers included Hawaii (77.7 percent), Maryland (77.4 percent), Delaware (77.3 percent), Vermont (76.7 percent), West Virginia (76.6 percent), Connecticut (76.4 percent), Oklahoma (76.3 percent), and California (76.2 percent).

Women rose to the top in other states, though their number didn’t reach nearly the levels that men did. The state with the highest number of female drivers involved in fatal crashes was New Hampshire. Female drivers were involved in 30.3 percent of deadly accidents. Other states where women were involved in the most car accidents leading to death included Maine (28.5 percent), North Carolina (28.2 percent), Washington (28.2 percent), Utah (27.9 percent), Georgia (27.7 percent), Florida (27.1 percent), South Carolina (27.1 percent), Alabama (27 percent), and Ohio (26.8 percent).

Of course, these drivers were not always alone when they were involved in these crashes. In fact, many times, they were accompanied by children. Idaho had the highest number of accidents involving children younger than 16, or 35.2 percent of accidents. In Utah, 34.6 percent of crashes resulted in the death of children younger than 16. It was 31.9 percent in Wyoming, 30.5 percent in Alaska, and 29.8 percent in Louisiana. The lowest number of deadly accidents involving children was in New Hampshire, which had only 9.6 percent.

It’s interesting to look at these numbers, but there are no definable reasons why men are involved in more deadly crashes in some states and women are involved in more in other states. Therefore, it’s more important to get to the bottom of why any crashes happen in the first place, such as failure to follow traffic rules, drinking while driving, or driving while distracted, such as texting or talking on the phone. Regulations must be tightened, and penalties must be increased to reduce the risk of dangerous behaviors on the road.

Whether you are injured in an accident caused by a male or female driver, the devastating consequences are still the same. You could suffer from chronic pain, loss of mobility, or impaired vision for the rest of your life. You could lose your ability to work, or you may no longer be able to work the way you once did. You could suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or experience problems with your relationships. Or, in a truly terrifying scenario, someone you love could be killed in an accident. Whether you suffer injuries that require just a few days in the hospital or you suffer life-changing consequences, you deserve to be compensated for what you have lost. Money won’t make things the way they were before the accident, but it will help you care for yourself and your family, and it will provide some measure of justice for the wrongs that have occurred.

The North Dakota accident injury attorneys at Larson Law are dedicated to helping you after a serious accident due to someone else’s negligence. Our attorneys help you level the playing field against the insurance companies, acting as a tough advocate for your rights while also guiding you through the legal process with compassion and personal attention. Call our firm today at 701-484-4878 to talk to a Minot accident injury attorney, or use our secure online form to schedule a free consultation.

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