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Do states with strict driving laws have fewer car accidents?

You don’t want to get pulled over in these states — but you are safer on the roads.

Sarah George's headshot

By

Sarah George

Updated

Fact checked

While the States may be united overall, they’re divided on laws that govern their roadways and how those laws are enforced. Yet these driving laws are in place for a reason — to keep everyone safe on the road and prevent serious injuries or death.

To determine whether stricter driving laws affect car accidents, we started by comparing laws and penalties for drunk driving, seatbelts and speeding. Then we looked at fatal crash rates using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the US Federal Highway Administration.

Strictest driving laws and car accidents by state

Alaska and Oregon take the No. 1 rank for the strictest driving laws, based on our analysis of drunk driving, seatbelt and speeding laws. If you’re caught zooming above the speed limit in Alaska, you could be pinned with fines anywhere from $250 to $2,000. Drunk driving could leave you with a 90-day suspension and up to $6,250 in fines.

In Oregon, you could pay $300 in speeding fines, and you’ll be pegged with a $1,000 fine minimum for drunk driving. The state also knows how to keep everyone buckled up. Around 96% of Oregonians buckle up when they’re on the road, one of the highest use rates in the country.

Want to know where your state ends up for safety rank or accident rate? Check out our interactive map or table.

Rank
State
Accident rate per 100K drivers
Maximum speed limit
Speeding penalties
License suspension length on first DUI
Seatbelt enforcement
6
Alabama
43.9
70
$500 and/or 3 months in jail
90 days
Primary
1
Alaska
22.4
65
$300
90 days
Primary
9
Arizona
33.9
75
$500 and/or 30 days in jail
90 days
Secondary
12
Arkansas
44.2
75
$500 and/or 6 months
6 months
Primary
8
California
23.9
70
$250
4 months
Primary
6
Colorado
26
75
$100
3 months
Secondary
5
Connecticut
18
65
$90
90 days
Primary
9
Delaware
30.8
65
$95
3 months
Primary (civil penalty)
11
Florida
38.6
70
$250
6 months for DUI, 12 months for breath test refusal
Primary
8
Georgia
39.7
70
$500
1 year
Primary
7
Hawaii
21.1
60
$500
3 months
Primary
18
Idaho
31.7
80
$300
90 days
Secondary
6
Illinois
22.2
70
$1,500 and/or 30 days in jail
6 months
Primary
17
Indiana
33.3
70
$1,000
180 days
Primary
3
Iowa
27.8
70
$625 and/or 30 days in jail
180 days
Primary
9
Kansas
33.8
75
$500
30 days
Primary
9
Kentucky
44.9
70
$100
30-120 days
Primary
6
Louisiana
41.3
75
$500 and/or 90 days in jail
No suspension
Primary
16
Maine
27.6
75
$500
90 days
Primary
13
Maryland
21.8
70
$500
180 days
Primary. Secondary for backseat passengers
11
Massachusetts
13.1
65
Exact speed over the limit determines the fine per mile over.
90 days
Secondary
14
Michigan
25.6
75
Exact speed over the limit determines the fine per mile over.
30-180 days
Primary
11
Minnesota
19.6
70
$1,000 and/or 90 days in jail
90 days
Primary
18
Mississippi
59.6
70
$500 and/or 6 months in jail
90 days
Primary
14
Missouri
39.4
70
$1,000 and/or 6 months in jail
90 days
Primary for passengers ages 8-15. Otherwise, secondary
17
Montana
40.3
80
$200
6 months
Secondary
14
Nebraska
29.6
75
$300
90 days
Secondary
8
Nevada
27.1
80
$1,000 and/or 6 months in jail
90 days
Secondary
18
New Hampshire
14.9
70
$350
6 months
Primary for anyone under age 18. No seatbelt law for adults
17
New Jersey
16.7
65
$200 and/or 15 days in jail
3 months
Primary. Secondary for backseat passengers
16
New Mexico
51.5
75
$200
Drivers under age 21: 1 year. Drivers age 21+: 6 months
Primary
4
New York
14.8
65
$600 and/or 30 days in jail
Yes
Primary
13
North Carolina
34.9
70
$100
30 days
Primary. Secondary for backseat passengers
15
North Dakota
31.7
75
The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount. For example: exceeding speed limit by 46+ mph add $5 per mph above limit plus $100
91 days
Primary for anyone under age 18. Otherwise, secondary
5
Ohio
26.7
70
$500 and/or 60 days in jail
90 days
Secondary
10
Oklahoma
49.9
80
$205 and/or 6 months in jail
180 days
Primary
1
Oregon
31.3
70
$2,000
90 days
Primary
14
Pennsylvania
22.3
70
The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount. For example: $42.50 for exceeding 65 mph limit, plus $2 for every mph over 5 mph above limit
No suspension
Primary for anyone ages 8-17. Otherwise, secondary
15
Rhode Island
14.3
65
$250+ for going 11 mph or more above speed limit
30-180 days
Primary
11
South Carolina
49.8
70
$200
BAC 0.08-0.14: no suspension. BAC 0.15+: 1 month
Primary
20
South Dakota
27.3
80
$500 and/or 30 days
30 days
Secondary
2
Tennessee
37.4
70
$50 and/or 30 days
1 year
Primary
19
Texas
37.3
85
$200
90 days or 180 days for breath test refusal
Primary
13
Utah
21
80
$870
120 days
Primary
15
Vermont
15.7
65
$1,000
90 days
Primary for anyone under age 18. Otherwise, secondary
2
Virginia
27.3
70
The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount. For example: $6 for each mile above the speed limit; $7 in a work zone
7 days
Primary for anyone under age 18. Otherwise, secondary
8
Washington
17
75
$250
90 days
Primary
18
West Virginia
44.3
70
$500
6 months
Primary
13
Wisconsin
24.5
70
$300
6-9 months
Primary
19
Wyoming
55.3
80
$500 and/or 6 months
90 days
Secondary

How drunk driving laws affect car accidents

States that keep strict laws for DUIs see an average of 8.2 fatal drunk driving crashes per 100,000 drivers, while the least strict states see an average of 9.1 crashes per 100,000 drivers.

We ranked the strictest states by looking at the DUI fines, minimum jail times, how long a person’s license is suspended and whether an ignition interlock device is required once someone gets their license back.

We sourced these laws from Nolo, a legal website that publishes guides about insurance, driving laws and other legal topics.

Strictest states on drunk driving

Compare the strictest states on drunk driving, their DUI penalties and their rate of fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers.

Rank
States
License suspension on first DUI
DUI fines and fees
Ignition interlock device required
Fatal crash involving a drunk driver per 100k drivers
1
Oregon
90 days
$1,000 to $6,250
No
10.4
2
Alaska
7 days
$1,500 to $25,000
Yes, if BAC .15 or above
7.2
3
Tennessee
180 days
$350 to $1,500
No
9.4
3
Utah
6 months
At least $1,310
Possible
3.4
3
Virginia
30-180 days
$250 to $2,500
No
7.9
4
Connecticut
6 months
$500 to $1,000
Yes
6.7
5
California
3 months
$1,400 to $2,600
No
6.2
5
Colorado
90 days
Up to $1,000 (DUI), or up to $500 (DWAI)
Yes
7.2
5
Iowa
4 months
$625 to $1,200
Yes, in some counties
8.4
5
Kansas
90 days
$750 to $1,000
No
7.6
5
Washington
3 months
$865.50 to $5,000
Possible
5.7
6
Minnesota
No suspension
$1,000
Possible
4.7
6
South Carolina
90 days
$400 to $1,000
No
13.9
7
Georgia
180 days
$300 to $1,000
Yes, if BAC above .10
9.4
7
Montana
90 days
$300 to $1,000
No
14.6
7
Nevada
90 days
$400 to $1,000
No
8.0
7
Ohio
3 months
$250 to $1,000
No
8.1
8
Arizona
1 year
$250 base fine
Yes
8.7
8
Delaware
90 days
$500 to $1,150
No
6.8
8
Florida
90 days
$500 to $2,000
Yes
9.4
8
Louisiana
30 days
$300 to $1,000
Yes
12.2
8
Massachusetts
90 days or 180 days for breath test refusal
$500 to $5,000
No
4.3
8
Nebraska
Yes
Up to $500
Yes
7.3
8
New York
180 days
$500 to $1,000
No
4.0
9
Arkansas
90 days
$150 to $1,000
Yes
11.5
9
Illinois
90 days
Up to $2,500
No
6.8
9
Oklahoma
30 days
Up to $1,000
No
11.7
Rank
States
License suspension on first DUI
DUI fines and fees
Ignition interlock device required
Fatal crash involving a drunk driver per 100k drivers
10
Alabama
90 days
$600 to $2,100
Yes
12.7
10
Kentucky
BAC 0.08-0.14: no suspension. BAC 0.15+: 1 month
$600 to $2,100
No
8.7
10
New Hampshire
30-120 days
$500 to $1,200
No
5.3
10
North Carolina
91 days
$200 (for level 5 offender)
No
8.2
10
North Dakota
90 days
$500 to $750
No
12.5
10
Texas
6-9 months
Up to $2,000
No
13.7
11
Maine
180 days
$500 to $2,000
No
8.7
12
Mississippi
6 months for DUI. 12 months for breath test refusal
$250 to $1,000
Yes
16.1
12
New Jersey
90 days
$250 to $500
Yes
3.7
13
Maryland
6 months
Up to $1,000 (DUI); up to $500 (DWI)
Possible
6.6
13
Michigan
3 months
From $100 to $500
No
6.7
13
Wisconsin
Drivers under age 21: 1 year. Drivers age 21+: 6 months
$150 to $300
Yes
7.8
14
Hawaii
120 days
$150 to $1,000
No
6.6
14
Idaho
1 year
Up to $1,000
No
10.1
14
Indiana
6 months
$500 to $5,000
Yes
9.0
14
Rhode Island
90 days
$100 to $500
Yes, if BAC .15 or above
6.5
14
Vermont
30-180 days
Up to $750
Possible
3.2
14
Wyoming
No suspension
Up to $750
Yes, if refusal to take chemical test
13.8
15
Missouri
90 days
Up to $500
Possible
10.4
15
New Mexico
6 months
Up to $500
No
15.1
15
Pennsylvania
90 days
$300
No
6.2
15
South Dakota
30 days
Up to $2,000
No
8.1
15
West Virginia
90 days
$100 to $1,000
Possible
9.9

How seatbelt laws affect car accidents

Buckling up is paramount to car safety, but not all states enforce seatbelts the same way. We ranked each state by looking at how seatbelt laws are enforced, child restraint laws and how many people use seatbelts in that state.

The strictest states allow primary enforcement, which means officers can stop you for not wearing a seatbelt without any other violation. Those states also enforce the law for all ages of occupants.

The least strict states typically allow enforcement only if another violation happens, called secondary enforcement. All states have child passenger safety laws for infants and young children. We sourced seatbelt laws from the GHSA and seatbelt use by state from the NHTSA.

Strictest states on using seatbelts

States with strict laws and enforcement for seatbelts see 1.5 drivers or passengers per 100,000 people killed after being ejected from a car. On the other hand, the least strict states see an average of 2.4 people killed per 100,000.

See how state laws and fatal crash rates compare.

Rank
States
Adult seatbelt allowed
Seatbelt enforcement
% Seatbelt use
Fatalities after vehicle ejection per 100K people
1
Alaska
4-7 years and 65 lbs or 57″ tall 7 years, if under height and weight limit
Primary for all riders
94.1
2.5
1
Oregon
8 years or over 4’9″ tall
Primary, age 8+ or 57+” tall
95.7
1.3
2
Alabama
6 years
Primary for all riders
92.3
3.2
2
California
8 years or 4’9″ tall in booster seat
Primary, ages 8-17 Otherwise, secondary
96.0
1.0
2
Hawaii
4-7 years and over 4’9″ tall 4-7 years and 40 lbs. if only rear seat lap belt available
Primary, age 8+
97.1
0.5
2
Louisiana
9-12 years and over 60 lbs.
Primary for all riders
87.5
2.3
2
New York
8 years
Primary, age 8+
94.2
0.4
3
Tennessee
9 years or over 4’9″ tall
Primary, age 13+
91.8
2.0
4
Connecticut
8-15 years and 60 lbs.
Primary, age 16+ Secondary for backseat passengers
93.7
0.7
4
Iowa
6 years
Primary, age 13+
94.6
1.8
4
Ohio
8 years
Primary, age 7+
85.9
1.4
4
Oklahoma
8 years or 4’9″ tall
Primary, age 8+
84.7
2.5
4
Wisconsin
8 years, over 80 lbs. or over 57″ tall
Primary for anyone under age 18 No seatbelt law for adults
90.2
1.9
5
Arizona
5-7 years and over 57″ tall
Primary for anyone under age 18 Otherwise, secondary
90.6
2.0
5
Colorado
8 years
Primary, age 15+
88.3
2.2
5
Georgia
Over 57″ tall 40 lbs. if only rear seat lap belt available
Primary, age 16+
95.9
1.8
5
Illinois
8 years Over 40 lbs. in rear seat if only lap belt available
Secondary Primary for ages 8-14 years
94.3
1.1
5
Kansas
8 years 4-7 years and over 80 lbs. or over 57″ tall
Primary, age 6+
84.9
1.8
5
Maine
8 years or over 57″ tall
Secondary, age 16+ Primary for under 18
88.5
1.3
5
Nevada
6 years and 57″ tall
Primary, age 16+
94.2
1.5
5
New Jersey
8 years or over 57″ tall
Primary, age 16+
90.2
0.4
5
Pennsylvania
8 years
Primary, age 16+
88.6
1.1
5
Rhode Island
8 years, 80 lbs. or 57″ tall
Primary for 18+ Secondary for 14-17 years old
88.3
0.8
5
Washington
4’9″ tall with seatbelt fitted properly 40 lbs. in seats with only lap belt
Secondary, age 6+
93.1
0.9
Rank
States
Adult seatbelt allowed
Seatbelt enforcement
% Seatbelt use
Fatalities after vehicle ejection per 100K people
6
Delaware
8-15 years or 66 lbs.
Primary, age 16+
92.5
1.1
6
Idaho
7 years
Primary, age 8+
85.7
3.0
6
Indiana
8 years
Primary, age 16+ or over 4’9″ tall
94.9
1.6
6
Kentucky
Over 57″ tall
Primary, age 16+ Secondary for backseat passengers
89.7
2.7
6
Maryland
8 years or over 57″ tall
Primary for anyone under age 18 Otherwise, secondary
90.4
1.0
6
Massachusetts
8 years or 57″ tall
Primary, age 8+
81.6
0.7
6
Michigan
8 years or 57″ tall
Primary for passengers ages 8-15 Otherwise, secondary
94.4
1.1
6
Minnesota
8 years or over 57″ tall
Primary, age 16+
93.4
0.9
6
North Carolina
8 years or 40-80 lbs. in seats without shoulder belts
Primary for anyone under age 18 Otherwise, secondary
88.4
1.8
6
North Dakota
8 years or 57″ tall
Primary, age 8+
83.7
3.5
6
Texas
8 years or over 57″ tall
Primary, age 18+
90.9
1.9
6
Vermont
8 years and over 20 lbs.
Primary for drivers under 18 Secondary, age 7+
89.3
1.0
7
Arkansas
6-14 years and 60 lbs.
Primary, age 8+
81.9
2.5
7
Missouri
8 years and 80 lbs. or over 4’9″ tall
Secondary, age 6+
87.7
2.8
7
Nebraska
8 years
Primary, age 15+
79.7
3.0
7
New Mexico
7 years
Secondary, age 13+
91.8
4.6
7
South Carolina
8 years, 80 lbs. or 57″ tall
Secondary, age 18+
90.3
2.6
7
Virginia
8 years or 4-7 years with physician’s exemption
Primary, age 16+
85.4
1.7
7
Wyoming
9 years
Primary, age 7+ or 57+” tall
78.3
8.5
8
Florida
6 years
Primary, age 16+
89.8
1.5
8
Mississippi
7 years, 57″ or 65 lbs.
Primary, age 18+
80.5
4.0
8
New Hampshire
7 years or 57″ tall
Primary, age 8+ or 57+” tall
70.7
0.4
8
Utah
8 years or 57″ tall
Secondary, age 9+
90.2
1.3
9
Montana
6 years and over 60 lbs.
Secondary, age 8+
88.9
4.4
9
South Dakota
5 years
Primary, front seat riders Secondary, backseat passengers
75.2
3.1
9
West Virginia
8 years and 4’9″ tall
Secondary, age 18+
90.2
2.5

How speeding laws affect car accidents

We ranked the strictest states on speeding by looking for low maximum speed limits and strict speeding enforcement through automated traffic cameras. The result? The strictest states on speeding see an average of 8.1 fatal car crashes per 100,000 drivers.

Meanwhile, the least strict states average 8.6 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers. We found that these states were more likely to prohibit using traffic cameras at all.

We sourced this information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the legal website Nolo. We did not rank states based on their speeding fines but included this information for comparison.

Strictest states for speeding

See how the speeding laws, fines and speed-related fatal crashes compare across the US.

Rank
States
Maximum speed limit
Speeding fines on 1st offense
Speed-related fatal crashes per 100K drivers
Speeding (10 points)
1
Hawaii
60
$200
9.9
8.5
2
Illinois
70
$150
8.3
8
2
Virginia
80
1-10 mph: $170; 11-15 mph: $220; 16-20 mph: $320; 21-25 mph: $470; 26-30 mph: $670; 31+ mph: $870
7.4
8
3
Alaska
70
$250-$2,000
9.4
7.5
4
Alabama
65
1-10 mph: $45-$150; 10-30 mph: $90-$300/15 days; 30+ mph: $180-$600/30 days
9.9
7
4
Iowa
75
$175/30 days in jail
5.9
7
4
Missouri
80
$1,000/6 months
14.3
7
4
New York
70
$30-$300
4.1
7
4
Ohio
70
$100/10 days
7.5
7
5
Kentucky
70
$100
6.3
6.5
6
Colorado
70
$100/10 days in jail
10.3
6
6
Georgia
65
$25-$75
6.4
6
6
Louisiana
70
$65-$625/30 days in jail
5.2
6
6
Maryland
65
$1,000 max.
5.7
6
6
Nevada
70
$100
7.5
6
6
New Mexico
65
$50 min. + $10 for every mph above speed limit
18.2
6
6
Oregon
70
$300 max. for petty misdemeanor
8.7
6
6
Pennsylvania
75
The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount
9.1
6
6
Tennessee
80
1-10 mph: $5; 11-15 mph: $20; 16-20 mph: $35; 21-25 mph: $75; 26-30 mph: $135; 31-35 mph: $155; 36+ mph: $205 and/or 10 days in jail
5.5
6
6
West Virginia
80
$500/30 days
14.2
6
7
Connecticut
70
$500 max.
4.8
5.5
7
Delaware
70
$1,000 max.
7.6
5.5
7
Florida
70
$50/30 days ?
3.6
5.5
7
Michigan
70
Infraction: $400; Class B Misdemeanor: $1,000/6 months
6.6
5.5
7
Vermont
80
$300 max.
6.8
5.5
Rank
States
Maximum speed limit
Speeding fines on 1st offense
Speed-related fatal crashes per 100K drivers
Speeding (10 points)
8
Arizona
70
$6 for each mph above speed limit, $7 per mph in work zones
10.7
5
8
Arkansas
70
$500 max.
11.4
5
8
Rhode Island
75
$500 max.
8.6
5
8
Washington
80
Up to 10 mph: $40; 11-20 mph: $70; 21-30 mph: $120; 31 mph+: $200
4.9
5
8
Wisconsin
70
1-10 mph: $50; 11-15 mph: $75; 16-20 mph: $100; 21-25 mph: $200; 26 mph+: $350
7.3
5
9
Indiana
75
$250 max.
8.0
4.5
9
Massachusetts
65
$35-$90
3.0
4.5
9
North Carolina
75
Based on speed
7.8
4.5
9
Oklahoma
70
$100
9.9
4.5
10
Idaho
65
1-10 mph: $95; 11+ mph: $250+
7.1
4
10
Mississippi
75
$15-$200
10.5
4
10
South Carolina
75
1-5 mph: $10; 6-10 mph: $25; 11-15 mph: $75; 16-20 mph: $125; 21-35 mph: $200 ; 36 mph+: $300
22.5
4
11
California
70
Speeding w/ 65 mph speed limit: $42.50; Other violations: $35 + $2 for mph after reaching 5 mph above speed limit
7.0
3.5
11
Kansas
70
$25-$250
9.2
3.5
11
Minnesota
65
$300 max.
4.4
3.5
11
Nebraska
75
Misdemeanor for speeding above 15 mph: $100/10 days in jail
5.4
3.5
11
North Dakota
70
1-10 mph: $15-$25; 11-14 mph: $25-$50; 15-24 mph: $50-$75; 25+ mph: $75-$200
8.4
3.5
11
South Dakota
65
$50-$200 / 15 days
6.5
3.5
12
Maine
75
$15-$100
8.1
3
12
New Hampshire
70
$60-$100
5.1
3
12
New Jersey
70
$1,000 max.
3.0
3
13
Montana
75
$250 max. for most violations; $500/30 days max. for excessive speeding; speeding under 10 mph: $15 + surcharges
12.4
2.5
13
Wyoming
85
$200 max.
17.1
2.5
14
Utah
80
– 1-10 mph: $5 per mph above limit with $25 max – 11-20 mph: $45 + $5/mph when going 10+ mph above limit – 20+ mph: $95 + $5/mph when going 20+ mph above limit
5.3
2
15
Texas
75
$25-$500
11.2
0

Methodology

To measure the states with the strictest laws, Finder collected data on drunk driving, seatbelt and speeding laws across the 50 states using specific metrics. We gave higher scores to stricter states, which we then used to rank each state.

Drunk driving penalties (Total possible points: 10)

  1. Drunk driving minimum jail time (3 points)
  2. Drunk driving minimum fine (3 points)
  3. Minimum license suspension (3 points)
  4. Ignition interlock device required (1 point)

Seatbelt enforcement (Total possible points: 10)

  1. Type of enforcement — primary or secondary (3)
  2. Type of child restraint enforced — rear-facing infant seat, forward-facing child safety seat and booster (2)
  3. Age that adult seatbelt is permitted (2)
  4. Percentage of seatbelt use (3)

Speeding enforcement (Total possible points: 10)

  1. Type of limit — absolute, basic, prima facie, mixed (2 points)
  2. Maximum posted speed limit (4 points)
  3. Minimum speeding fine (2 points)
  4. Auto speed enforcement permitted (2 points)

Previous findings:

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Writer

Sarah George is Staff Writer for Small Business Loans at BankRate and formally a personal finance writer at Finder focusing on all things banking and insurance. Her know-how has been featured in such publications as CBS, CNET and Reviews.com, and she was a panelist in Finder’s 2020 money-saving webinar. Sarah earned an English education degree and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance. See full bio

Sarah's expertise
Sarah has written 25 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Car, motorcycle, home and life insurance
  • Insurance for specific car models
  • Analysis of industry reports
  • Insurance policy comparison

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