Wisconsin is perhaps best known for its cheese, beautiful landscapes, four-time Super Bowl-winning NFL team, and passionate football fans.
As it turns out, however, we are not known for our driving skills. That is, when compared to regional rival Minnesota.
Each year, the car insurance rate comparison website Car Insurance Comparison compiles data and ranks the safety of drivers in each of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
How do Wisconsin drivers compare to drivers from regional rival Minnesota?
According to this list, we have some work to do.
Wisconsin came in at number 20 – while Minnesota came in second at number 50. For this study, the higher, the better.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was used. A variety of factors determined each state’s ranking: Fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, drunk driving, speeding, careless driving, failure to use seat belt, invalid driver’s license, and more.
Iowa came in first.
Before you get blue, consider this:
Another website, QuoteWizard, recently ranked the best and worst drivers by state. Surprisingly – or maybe confusingly – Minnesota came in second for having the least safe drivers, behind California.
According to this study, Wisconsin came in at #23.
Maybe the lesson here is to take these rankings with a grain of salt.
It is important to remember that each driver is responsible for his or her behavior behind the wheel. Obeying traffic laws, avoiding distracted driving, avoiding excessive speeding, and respecting other drivers are safe driving practices that all drivers should employ, regardless of geographic location.