How Dangerous Are Montana Highways?

Montana is a big state with thousands of miles of roads, highways, and interstates.

While we are one of the country's least populated states, we have millions of visitors each year who travel here to experience Yellowstone, Glacier, and all of the other things and places Montana has to offer. While the summer months are more congested with traffic than the rest of the year, we still have many people traveling all year.

So just how dangerous are the roads in Montana and where do we rank compared to other states?

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A recent study by a personal injury law firm took a look at data from the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over the last few years to determine which states were the most dangerous for freeway driving and while Montana isn't the most dangerous state, it did end up in the Top 5.

According to the data, our neighbors in Wyoming take the top spot with a rate of just under 25 people per 100,000 which is triple the national average. New Mexico is second, followed by Missouri, and in 4th place is Montana.

So what do the numbers look like for The Treasure State?

According to the NHTSA, Montana has a rate of just over 15 deaths per 100,000 which is more than 68 percent over the national average. Interestingly enough, Montana also leads the nation when it comes to drunk driving fatalities, which more than likely is connected to the overall average.

Several tips can be used to help prevent accidents, including the following:

• Don't text and drive
• Don't drink and drive
• Drive according to the road conditions
• Follow the suggested speed limits.

Of course, safety is always important as you travel across our beautiful state and while you might be in a hurry to get where you are, you should slow down and let your passengers enjoy the view.