North Dakota Drivers: Confident, Fast, and Apparently a Little Too Festive

If this winter felt especially rough on your nerves every time you pulled onto a North Dakota highway, you’re not imagining it. Between the icy intersections, snow-packed county roads, and that one pickup that insists on passing everyone at exactly the wrong moment, driving lately has felt like an extreme sport. And now, according to LendingTree, there’s an official answer to the question many of us have muttered from behind the wheel: yes, the bad drivers really do live here.

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North Dakota Takes an Unwanted Crown: Worst Drivers in the Nation

In fact, North Dakota has been crowned home to the worst drivers in the United States. I know that's not a title we were aiming for, but here we are. In 2025 through September, North Dakota drivers recorded 64 incidents per 1,000 drivers, including accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, and other citations. For comparison, New Jersey came in second at 58.8, and Utah followed at 54.6. Apparently, we don’t just brave the elements—we challenge the odds while we’re at it.

North Dakota Leads the Nation in DUIs, Leaving Other States in the Dust

Living dangerously seems to be part of the Peace Garden State lifestyle. North Dakota also leads the nation in DUI rates, with 3.7 DUIs per 1,000 drivers in 2025. California came in just behind at 3.5, while Minnesota landed at 2.8. Meanwhile, Florida drivers are apparently sipping iced tea and behaving themselves, with a DUI rate of just 0.4. Illinois, Mississippi, and West Virginia also keep things calm at 0.6.

Read More: North Dakota Sees Sharp Drop In Serious Crimes

We Do Have The Need For Speed Too

Speeding is another category where North Dakota decided to go big. Through September, drivers here racked up 11.9 speeding-related incidents per 1,000 drivers, making us the only state above 10. Utah followed at 9.4, and Vermont came in at 7.7. At the other end of the spectrum, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York barely register, all under 0.5.

Of course, context matters. We know that North Dakota has long, open roads, wide skies, and stretches of highway where you can drive for miles without seeing another soul—until suddenly everyone is on the road at once. Add in winter weather, limited daylight, and a strong sense of independence, and you’ve got a perfect recipe these statistics.

So no, it’s probably not that everyone here is a terrible driver. It’s more likely that we are are confident, in a hurry, and occasionally a little too comfortable behind the wheel. Still, with bragging rights like “worst drivers in America,” maybe this is the year we all take it down a notch, leave a little earlier, and let the other car merge.