Depending on the specific driver and policy, the cost of auto insurance swelled as much as 21% this year. The good news for drivers is there are ways to wrangle vehicle-insurance expenses. One way is to maintain a safe driving record. Driving history looms large when insurers price auto-insurance policies along with such factors as the driver's age, gender, occupation, location and vehicle details. "Dangerous driving behavior on your record typically leads to higher premiums," Forbes Advisor staffers Meera Pal and Kelly Anne Smith wrote in a recent article about where in the U.S. drivers appear to be the most reckless. "Speeding, distracted driving and driving under the influence can also lead to a greater chance of accidents and claims." Their study took into account the number of fatal accidents in each state; the number of drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents; the number of fatal distracted- or drowsy-driving crashes; the number of speed-related crashes; those involving DUIs; and those caused by drivers who were using their phones prior to the accident. Forbes Advisor calculated all of these factors in order to assign each state a "bad driving" score. The slideshow above illustrates the states in the U.S. where drivers are statically most reckless, according to Forbes Advisor. See also:

• The worst things drivers do behind the wheel
• Which U.S. states have the worst drivers? (2023)
• Which generation has the worst drivers?