Before you pack your bags for an epic cross-country road trip, you’ll want to be sure to pack an extra dose of patience and defensive driving skills, too. We’re not saying to avoid these areas, but you should be aware of where the ten states in the U.S. with the worst driving records are.

Ranking the Worst of the Worst

How were the states ranked, you ask? SmartAsset considers three key metrics: the ratio of insured drivers, the frequency of DUI arrests per 1,000 drivers, and the number of fatalities per 100,000 miles driven. Here are the contenders for the dubious distinction of America’s worst driving.

#1 Mississippi

Reigning unchallenged at the top for three consecutive years is Mississippi. With just 76.3% of its drivers insured and a disturbing fatality rate of 1.63 per 100 million vehicle miles, it’s no wonder this state maintains its unenviable position.

#2 Nevada

Grabbing the second spot is Nevada, notorious for its high DUI incidence rate of 5.54 per 1,000 drivers. It also curiously leads the pack in online searches for traffic ticket-related issues.

#3 Tennessee

Taking the bronze in this unwelcome contest is Tennessee, another southern state, where only 80% of drivers are insured. However, it seems they’re attempting to clean up their act with a slight drop in DUIs from the previous year.

#4 Florida

Making it a southern trifecta, Florida lands in the fourth spot. With the dubious distinction of the lowest insured driver ratio at 73.3% and the 11th highest fatality rate, it’s a cautionary tale for motorists. Sadly, Florida holds three of the top five spots for worst cities in the U.S. for drivers. Use extra caution when driving in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa.

#5 California

The Golden State doesn’t shine so brightly on the roadways, sitting in fifth place. Despite a relatively high insured driver ratio of 84.8%, California’s increasing DUI rate places it firmly on our list.

#6 Arizona

Cruising into the sixth spot is Arizona, which despite having 88.0% of its drivers insured, suffers from a high fatality rate of 1.53 per 100 million miles traveled.

#7 South Carolina

Occupying the seventh place is South Carolina, boasting an impressive insured driver ratio of over 90%. However, it’s the highest fatality rate in the top ten that casts a dark cloud over this otherwise impressive stat.

#7 Texas

Tying for seventh place is Texas. Although Texas does have a higher percentage of insured drivers at 85.9%, an unfortunate increase in DUI incidents puts the state on this list.

#9 New Mexico

Coming in ninth is New Mexico, where over a fifth of drivers are uninsured, and the state ranks 10th for fatalities per 100 million miles driven.

#10 Alaska

Last but not least is Alaska. With an uninsured driver rate of 84.6% and a worrying number of DUIs, it’s a frosty finish for Alaska on our list.

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Statistics for ranking the ten U.S. cities with the worst driving records are provided by a report by the World Population Review.

This article was produced by Our Woven Journey. Featured Image Credit: Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.