Iowa Has Some of the Least Distracted Drivers in America

Iowa Has Some of the Least Distracted Drivers in America

Why Kei via Unsplash

No matter where we turn in this modern world we are bombarded with more distractions than ever before.

That's especially true when we get behind the wheel, where the latest hi-tech gadgets and gizmos in our vehicles can make concentrating on driving difficult at times.

According to 24/7 Wall St., the latest numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that 3,142 people (roughly eight percent) were killed in car accidents caused by distracted drivers in 2020.

[brandedappromo]

Not surprisingly, cell phones are the main culprit for distracting drivers, with 13% of all fatal distracted driving accidents attributed to either texting or talking.

Other leading distractors include kids and pets, reaching for objects, reading, eating and drinking, applying makeup, and interacting with passengers.

But when broken down by state, drivers in Iowa are some of the best when putting those distractions aside.

A report from Zutobi Drivers Ed, shows that drivers in the Hawkeye State are the seventh best in the nation for keeping their focus behind the wheel.

Iowa has top ten showings in the fewest distracted driving deaths per 100,000 drivers (8th best) and percentage of fatal crashes involving distracted driving (10th best).

LEAST DISTRACTED DRIVERS IN AMERICA

  1. Mississippi
  2. California
  3. Nevada
  4. Connecticut
  5. West Virginia
  6. Rhode Island
  7. Iowa
  8. Georgia
  9. Arkansas
  10. Delaware

Drivers in South Dakota and Minnesota also had respectable showings on the list.

The Mount Rushmore State had the 15th-best score, thanks in large part to the fourth-lowest number of distracted driving fatalities (6) last year.

Minnesota drivers were 20th on the least distracted drivers list.

The North Star State had the 13th fewest number of distracted driving deaths per 100,000 drivers (0.68).

As for the states where drivers aren't keeping their eyes on the road, New Mexico has the most distracted driving deaths per 100,000 drivers (10.05) and the highest percentage of fatal crashes involving distracted driving (38.08%).

MOST DISTRACTED DRIVERS IN AMERICA

  1. New Mexico
  2. Kansas
  3. Louisiana
  4. Wyoming
  5. Kentucky
  6. Illinois
  7. New Jersey
  8. Hawaii
  9. Washington
  10. Virginia

TRENDING FROM RESULTS-TOWNSQUARE MEDIA SIOUX FALLS

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

LOOK: Route 66’s quirkiest and most wonderful attractions state by state

Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions--state by state--to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America, and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66.
Filed Under: Driving, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota
Categories: Articles, News, South Dakota

More From KXRB