Study: 15 U.S. states with the strictest driving laws

Slideshow August 29, 2019 at 05:00 AM

Share & Print

As the sun begins to set on summer 2019, more than 35.5 million Americans will take to the roads during the long Labor Day weekend for one last warm-weather travel hurrah, according to AAA. Here's another reason this Labor Day should be popular among road trippers: The national gas price average is lower than it's been in three years, at $2.59, AAA says. With so many people headed to the mountains or the beach, it follows that Labor Day weekend also sees an uptick in car accidents. The National Safety Council has determined that roughly 49,000 U.S. drivers are involved in auto accidents during the Labor Day holiday. But less dramatic roadside events, such as getting pulled over for speeding, cell phone use or a seat belt law violation, may not result in physical injuries a la a car accident but still could produce a hike in individual drivers' auto insurance rates. Researchers with YourMechanic.com recently surveyed the 50 states to determine which ones are strictest when it comes to traffic stops for:

Drunk driving;
Cell phone use;
Child safety;
Seat belts;
Speed limits;
Speeding;
Novice drivers; and
Bicycle safety.

The site ranked each state based on its response to those laws, then combined its research to determine which U.S. states are strictest overall when it comes to the enforcement of driving and traffic safety laws. The slideshow above reveals the top 15 states in YourMechanic.com's study of the strictest driving laws in the U.S. "Knowledge of your state's driving laws is very important, not just to avoid being persecuted for failing to follow them, but also to give you a better sense of proper vehicle safety while driving," says James McCrae, who authored the YourMechanic.com study. "One should always follow the law to its full extent and take every possible precaution when driving, whether that involves wearing a seat belt, turning off one's cell phone or staying below the speed limit." See also: