Cars manufactured today are built with safety in mind. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), modern cars are much safer since seatbelts, airbags, and crash avoidance systems have increased the chances of a driver surviving a car crash dramatically, yet in 2021, there were still 42,939 lives lost on U.S. roads.

A new study conducted by Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer John Fitch analyzed traffic accident data from 2017 to 2021, where we learn that four New England States are in the top 10 for highest car crash fatalities. That left us asking what we can do to get out of the top 10.

Number one is to slow down. Speed limits are there for a reason. Sticking to the speed limit gives you more reaction time, and simply makes you and other drivers safer than doing 20 over and hoping you don't get caught.

The study compared the number of people killed in fatal crashes against the total number of people involved in these accidents across different states. The states were then ranked according to their fatality rates to identify those with the highest percentage of fatalities in traffic accidents. ​

Here are the four states in New England that made the top 10, with some of the worst crash fatality rates in the country from 2017 to 2021.

#1 Vermont

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...
  • 320 people killed in fatal crashes
  • 616 people involved in fatal accidents
  • 51.95% of people in fatal accidents who die

#3 New Hampshire

New Hampshire state welcome sign
Getty Images/iStockphoto
loading...
  • 572 people killed in fatal crashes
  • 1,124 people involved in fatal accidents
  • 50.89% of people in fatal accidents who die

#5 Maine

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...
  • 783 people killed in fatal crashes
  • 1,554 people involved in fatal accidents
  • 50.39% of people in fatal accidents who die

#8 Rhode Island

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...
  • 330 people killed in fatal crashes
  • 682 people involved in fatal accidents
  • 48.39% of people in fatal accidents who die

16 Maine Hidden Gems

Looking for inspiration for your Maine adventure? Check out our list of attractions, historic sites, restaurants, and performance venues.

LOOK: Unique baby names from the year you were born

Stacker highlighted one of the least-used baby names from each year between 1950 and 2022, using data from the Social Security Administration.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

More From Q97.9