CarInsuranceComparison.com recently conducted a comprehensive study that ranked the quality of drivers in all fifty (50) states and the District of Columbia. Results from the study were featured in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger as well as USA Today and NBC News. According to the study, Louisiana has the worst drivers in America. Mississippi is not far behind, ranking third worst of all states. In comparison, Tennessee has the thirteenth (13th) worst drivers while Arkansas has the seventeenth (17th) worst drivers.
To determine the overall rankings, researchers gathered data from the following five categories:
- Fatalities rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled
- Failure to obey (traffic signals and seat belts)
- Drunk driving
- Tickets
- Careless driving
Researchers analyzed statistics from multiple sources to complete this study, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (“MADD”), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the National Motorists Association. To determine the overall rankings, researchers ranked each state in each category. Arkansas and Mississippi’s worst ranking each came in fatalities rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, fourth and fifth worst, respectively. In the same category, Tennessee ranked fourteenth worst. Tennessee’s worst ranking came in failure to obey (traffic signals and seat belts), eleventh worst of all states. In failure to obey, Mississippi ranked seventh worst, and Arkansas ranked ninth worst.
Per the study, “of the 15 states with the best drivers, only 4 ranked in the bottom half for Careless Driving, meaning they were keeping an eye on the road ahead and their surroundings – NOT on their cell phones.” The study highlights what we already know: cell phones significantly contribute to careless or distracted driving, offering distractions such as texting, web browsing, and searching for music. These distractions often serve as examples of negligence behind the wheel. When a driver looks at his cell phone, he shifts his attention away from the road, surroundings, signs and lights, and other drivers and pedestrians. Per the National Safety Council, drivers using cell phones are 4 times as likely to be involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, at any given moment, approximately 9% of all drivers are talking on a cell phone, and more than 1 in 3 drivers admit to talking on the phone regularly while driving.
If you have been injured in an auto accident in Tennessee, Mississippi or Arkansas, contact the auto accident attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz (“NST Law”) today at 1-800-LAW-4004. NST Law, with twenty nine (29) attorneys and a dedicated support staff of paralegals and investigators, understands how to properly develop an auto accident case, which includes proving liability and thoroughly documenting injuries and damages. To prove liability, NST attorneys may seek records from a driver’s cell phone carrier to prove the driver was texting prior to a serious auto accident. Further, since texting while driving is completely banned in Tennessee and Arkansas, Team NST knows to pay attention to whether a driver received a citation after the accident. In an auto accident case, NST Law always seeks maximum compensation for clients, including compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. NST Law understands the importance of accurately documenting all of these damages and may employ the services of an expert to communicate the extent of these damages to a judge or jury.
NST Law understands the period of time following an auto accident can be challenging and difficult to navigate through. Call NST Law today at 1-800-LAW-4004 for a free initial consultation if you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident. With over twenty four (24) years experience handling auto accident cases in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, NST Law has the experience and resources needed to effectively handle your case.