Massachusetts Is One of the Best States for Drivers

For many, driving in America can often be a unique experience, with some states easier and safer to drive in than others. But where does Massachusetts rank among the best states to drive, and how does it compare across a series of common driving factors?

Analyzing and ranking each state according to a range of factors -- including the number of license holders, the driving test pass rate, and the number of insured drivers on the roads -- we’ve been able to reveal America’s top states to drive in.

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Massachusetts is One of the Safest States for Drivers

Comparing driving data across each U.S. region, we can reveal that Massachusetts is the fourth safest state to drive in, just ever so slightly behind with Virginia, with an overall index score of 57.93 out of 80. 

The state performs particularly impressively for the rate of insured drivers on the road (93.8%) – third only behind nearby Maine (95.5%) and New York (93.9%) – as well as having the fewest driving fatalities of any U.S. region (4.9 per 100,000 people). 

Interestingly, soon-to-be drivers here can also apply for a learners permit at age 16, and a full license at 18, meaning Massachusetts has, statistically, among the oldest "new" drivers in America. 

Taking top spot overall, however, Delaware records an index score of 59.2. Impressively, Delaware can also claim the highest rate of driving license holders (82.24%) and second fewest DUIs per 100,000 drivers. 

Meanwhile, Maryland ranks second (58.4). Virginia (57.94) has the highest pass rate of all U.S. states for ‘the knowledge’ (86%) - the theoretical element of the standard driving test. 

Following Virginia and Massachusetts, we have three other east coast states in Connecticut (57.5), New Jersey (55.5), and Rhode Island (52.9), while Arizona ranks eighth. In fact, Arizona records the highest average number of clear days annually (193, more than half the year) and the third-highest rate of driving license holders (77.79%). 

Following closely behind, Pennsylvania (52.2) and Nebraska (51.2) complete the top ten, while Ohio (50.9) and Missouri (50.4) just miss out. Next up, New Hampshire (50.1), Georgia (49.76), and Illinois (49.75) round out the 15 safest states to drive in. 

At the other end of the table, however, Alaska is considered the most dangerous state to drive in, due in part to the low average number of clear days – just 61, more than only West Virginia (60), Washington (58), and Vermont (58) – as well as the fact drivers can apply for their learners permit at age 14.

What Are Your Odds of Driving in Massachusetts?

We’ve compared the safest states to drive in according to an array of common factors, but where abouts does Massachusetts rank when comparing the odds of becoming an eligible driver?

With moneyline odds of -226, the chance of passing your driving test in Massachusetts is stronger than nearby New Jersey (-197), Rhode Island (-195), and New York (-149) – while Delaware tops the list as the region with the greatest odds of all (-463).

Meanwhile, your chances of coming across an uninsured driver are strongest in Florida (+275), Mississippi (+322), and Louisiana (+355), with Massachusetts having the third-lowest odds – behind only Maine (+2,122) and New York (+1,539).

Comparing data across the U.S., it’s interesting to see how Massachusetts ranks among the safest states for drivers – and which regions’ roads are considered the most perilous! 

For more local insight like this, check out the latest news in Massachusetts, where we also provide reviews of Massachusetts betting apps and sites. 

We also keep a close eye on various promotions from sportsbooks. so if you're interested, check out the Caesars Massachusetts promo code and other offers. 

Methodology

For this campaign, two datasets have been created. The first ranks U.S. states based on how good they are for driving. The second looks at the moneyline odds of having a license and the odds of not being insured.

The driving index considers nine different factors. All U.S. states were ranked and given an index value between 0 and 10. These values were then summed to provide a total score for each state, which were then ranked. The factors are as follows:

• License holders - The percentage of the total population with a full drivers license. 
• Knowledge test pass mark - The percentage of total marks required to pass the driving knowledge test. 
• Percentage of insured drivers - The percentage of drivers who are insured. 
• DUIs per 100,000 drivers - The number of DUIs handed out per 100,000 drivers. Normalized by giving a high score to a low value, and a low score to a high value.
• Road deaths per 100,000 people - The number of road deaths per 100,000 people. Normalized by giving a high score to a low value, and a low score to a high value. 
• Gas prices - The average price of a gallon of gas. Normalized by giving a high score to a low value, and a low score to a high value. 
• Clear days - The average number of days annually when cloud covers at most 30% of the sky during daylight hours. 
• Age for learners permit - The minimum age required to get a learners permit. 
• Age for full license - The minimum age required to get a full license.

The most recent data available was used where possible. All data is correct as of 10/17/2022.

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