Study: Best and worst drivers ranked by state

Everyone likes to think they’re a good driver. But there’s new data indicating the best and worst drivers by state — and some of us are clearly delusional if we think we’re doing all right behind the wheel!

RELATED: Costco Tire Center: 7 things to know before getting new tires

Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma have the best drivers, Maine has the worst

QuoteWizard.com recently took a look at the best and worst drivers across the country. The website, which focuses on quotes for auto and other insurance, analyzed more than 2 million data points from its databases and compared that info with fatality data from the Federal Highway Administration.

Special attention was paid to the following measures to determine the final rankings:

  • Accidents
  • Speeding tickets
  • DUIs
  • Citations
  • Fatalities

So without further ado, here is QuoteWizard's list of the Best and Worst Drivers by State.

Note: This is a countdown list, so #1 actually means a state has the worst drivers, while #50 indicates the best drivers in the nation.

  1. Maine
  2. South Carolina
  3. Nebraska
  4. California
  5. North Dakota
  6. Minnesota
  7. Idaho
  8. Ohio
  9. Utah
  10. Washington
  11. Vermont
  12. Maryland
  13. Oregon
  14. Virginia
  15. Georgia
  16. Wyoming
  17. Wisconsin
  18. North Carolina
  19. New Hampshire
  20. Iowa
  21. Delaware
  22. Massachusetts
  23. Kansas
  24. New Jersey
  25. Alaska
  26. Colorado
  27. Tennessee
  28. Hawaii
  29. Connecticut
  30. Louisiana
  31. Montana
  32. Indiana
  33. New Mexico
  34. New York
  35. South Dakota
  36. Alabama
  37. Texas
  38. Pennsylvania
  39. Missouri
  40. Florida
  41. Kentucky
  42. Rhode Island
  43. West Virginia
  44. Arkansas
  45. Nevada
  46. Illinois
  47. Arizona
  48. Oklahoma
  49. Mississippi
  50. Michigan

Analysis of the results

When looking at the data, naturally you’d expect residents of Maine — the state with the worst drivers — would pay some of the highest auto insurance rates. Likewise, you’d expect those who live in Michigan — the state with the best drivers — to pay some of the lowest rates.

Yet nothing could be further from the truth!

According to Insure.com, Michigan is the single most expensive state for a sample auto insurance policy ($2,738), while Maine was the cheapest state in the Union ($808).

You can see the full list of the most and least expensive states for auto insurance here.

The reality is that many auto insurers set rates not based on driving record, but on your street address and neighborhood you live in. That’s why it’s more important than ever to shop your auto insurance to get the best rate.

We've got a complete guide to the best and worst auto insurance companies to get you started.

More insurance stories on Clark.com:

The post Study: Best and worst drivers ranked by state appeared first on Clark Howard.