North Dakota Drivers Hit With Bad News in Latest Safety Rankings

It’s been a wild ride so far in 2026 for North Dakota, and now there’s another headline residents probably didn’t want to hear. According to a new report from Hard Rock Bet, North Dakota ranks dead last in the nation when it comes to safe driving habits.

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North Dakota’s Small Driver Pool Still Produced Big Problems on the Road

That’s right—despite having a much smaller population and fewer drivers than most states, North Dakota still managed to score at the bottom of the list. The study looked at several key categories tied to dangerous driving behaviors, and unfortunately, the Peace Garden State showed up near the top in all the wrong places.

The report says North Dakota has approximately 580,918 drivers and logged nearly 9.896 billion miles traveled. Even with those lower totals compared to larger states, the numbers surrounding traffic violations and impaired driving were alarming.

Read More: North Dakota Population Hits Record High Nearing 800,000

North Dakota Speeding

North Dakota Speeding

Speeding and DUI Numbers Put North Dakota at the Top of the Wrong List

One of the biggest concerns involved speeding. North Dakota reportedly recorded 11.9 speeding-related incidents per 1,000 people. That was not only the highest in the country, but also significantly ahead of second-place Utah by about 2.5 incidents per 1,000 residents.

If that wasn’t troubling enough, North Dakota also led the nation in DUI rates. The study found 3.7 DUIs per 1,000 drivers, edging out California, which came in second. For a state known for wide open roads and smaller communities, those statistics are raising eyebrows.

The report also noted that 14.41% of drivers in North Dakota have received a speeding ticket, ranking the state third nationally in that category. Accident numbers were also higher than many would expect, with 20.1 accidents per 1,000 people.

When all the categories were combined, North Dakota landed squarely at the bottom of the rankings for overall driver safety.

Of course, statistics only tell part of the story. Weather conditions, rural highways, oil patch traffic, long travel distances, and icy roads can all contribute to difficult driving conditions across the state. Still, the report serves as a reminder that safe driving matters every single day.

So whether you’re heading across town, driving Highway 2, or making a long trip across western North Dakota, it might be a good time to ease off the gas pedal, stay alert, and make smart choices behind the wheel. A little extra caution could go a long way in helping North Dakota improve those rankings in the future.