How do Massachusetts teenagers drive? A new ranking shows they’re among the best in the country.
Private financial company WalletHub just released its list of the best and worst states for new drivers, and Massachusetts made the top five.
WalletHub said the list was compiled based on historical data on car accidents and traffic laws in every state in the country.
“Learning to drive is an exciting experience for teens, but the process is equally nerve-wracking for their parents, who know the risks of driving from experience,” said a WalletHub analyst. “The best states for teen drivers promote safety through easy access to driving courses, strict laws for bad behavior on the road, and well-maintained roads.”
That’s why Massachusetts was at the top of the list.
What is driving like for teenagers in Massachusetts?
WalletHub has ranked Massachusetts as the fifth best state in the country for teen drivers in a new list.
The list was compiled based on several factors, including historical data on fatal car crashes and drunk driving cases in each state.
Massachusetts achieved an overall score of 63.20 on the list, making it the second best state of all states in terms of safety, among other things.
The state with the highest score for teen drivers was New York with an overall score of 72.58.
The rankings also revealed that Massachusetts has the fifth-lowest number of fatal crashes involving teen drivers in the country relative to its teen population.
Which other states in New England are best for new drivers?
While Massachusetts had the highest scores of all New England states among new drivers, there was one other state in the top 10.
Connecticut was ranked the sixth best state in the country for new drivers.
The other New England states fared worse:
- Rhode Island: No. 14
- Maine: No. 21
- New Hampshire: No. 38
- Vermont: No. 41
How are the best states for new drivers determined?
To determine which states are best and worst for new drivers, WalletHub used data from state agencies to examine three factors: safety, economic environment and traffic laws.
These factors were further broken down into categories to calculate scores for each state. For example, in the area of safety, the number of deaths caused by teen drivers per 100,000 teens, road rage and teen texting while driving were taken into account.
Scores totaled 100 and were weighted to determine the average. Higher scores meant better rankings. Massachusetts scored 63.20.
