Rhode Island Named Safest State For Distracted Driving

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island roads are bridges are known to be lacking, but a new ranking shows that Ocean State drivers are the safest in the country when it comes to distracted driving. The data, released by LetsTalk on Monday, showed that there were fewer distracted driving-related deaths in Rhode Island than anywhere else in the country.

On the other end of the spectrum is New Mexico, named the deadliest state for distracted driving with an average of 61.6 deaths per 1 million residents. Rhode Island, meanwhile, had just one death per 1 million residents.

Two other New England state made it into the top five: Vermont and Connecticut, in second and third place, respectively. Rounding out the top five were Mississippi and California.

To compile the ranking, the organization analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which provides annual reports of deaths caused by vehicle crashes.

Sine 2018, handheld phone use has been illegal in Rhode Island, including holding a phone while driving and texting. On Monday, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a similar "hands-free" driving bill into law.

More than 49 million Americans expected to drive more than 50 miles this Thanksgiving holiday, LetsTalk said, the highest number since 2005.