Look before you leap. Haste makes waste. Fools rush in. The English language is full of idioms warning you of the dangers of reckless behavior. And while they may be a bit cliche, there’s some merit to all those sayings—impulsiveness can be dangerous, both financially and physically. That's why we at Best Life set out to find where people aren't exactly the pillars of responsibility by determining the most reckless state in America, according to data.
To see where people play things fast and loose in their daily lives, we looked at the most recent data* for five metrics: speeding tickets per capita** (from a local Honda dealership), pedestrian fatalities caused by accidents per capita (from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fatality analysis reporting system), state government debt per capita (from World Population Review), landfill waste produced per capita (based on EPA data compiled by Big Rentz), and the average life expectancy in each state (also via World Population Review).
We then gave each of the metrics a weighted value before plugging them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our 100-point scale Reckless Index, where a score of 100 was given to the state that is more reckless than all the others. The most notable thing about the results is the sharp divide that happens after the top three most reckless states, which are all from the same region and received comparatively close high scores. The fourth state's score, however, was more than 20 points less than the state ranked third—indicating a drastic drop in recklessness. Read on to find out the most reckless state in the country, as well as to learn how your state stacks up. And for more on the most precarious places in the country, This Is the Most Dangerous State in America.
*Editor’s note: “N/A” indicates that data was not available for that particular metric. We adjusted the algorithm to ensure that each state was scored fairly and accurately.
**Per capita equates to per 100,000 residents in all instances.
50 | Minnesota
Shutterstock/Real Window CreativeSpeeding tickets per capita: 487.04
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.75
Debt per capita: $2,867.56
Landfill trash per capita: 16.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 80.7
Reckless Index Score: 0.00
49 | North Dakota
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 85.35
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.79
Debt per capita: $3,747.49
Landfill trash per capita: 20.3 tons
Average life expectancy: 78.5
Reckless Index Score: 5.14
48 | Idaho
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 512.39
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.97
Debt per capita: $1,811.27
Landfill trash per capita: 19.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.0
Reckless Index Score: 12.36
47 | Vermont
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.96
Debt per capita: $5,620.46
Landfill trash per capita: 21.8 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.9
Reckless Index Score: 16.03
46 | Maine
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 429.40
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.52
Debt per capita: $3,507.06
Landfill trash per capita: 21.9 tons
Average life expectancy: 78.0
Reckless Index Score: 18.65
45 | Iowa
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 675.99
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.70
Debt per capita: $1,941.21
Landfill trash per capita: 27.4 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.4
Reckless Index Score: 19.69
44 | Colorado
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 106.96
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.56
Debt per capita: $2,881.19
Landfill trash per capita: 44.6 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.9
Reckless Index Score: 23.15
43 | Nebraska
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 460.60
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.24
Debt per capita: $1,032.03
Landfill trash per capita: 37.6 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.1
Reckless Index Score: 24.40
And for the place where people could most use a lesson on good manners, This Is the Rudest State in America.
42 | Utah
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 645.19
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.14
Debt per capita: $2,251.24
Landfill trash per capita: 27.8 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.3
Reckless Index Score: 26.35
41 | Montana
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 222.35
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.41
Debt per capita: $2,576.60
Landfill trash per capita: 26.0 tons
Average life expectancy: 76.9
Reckless Index Score: 28.08
40 | Virginia
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 245.38
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.39
Debt per capita: $3,234.08
Landfill trash per capita: 40.3 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.1
Reckless Index Score: 29.43
39 | Texas
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 159.26
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.13
Debt per capita: $1,714.19
Landfill trash per capita: 36.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 78.5
Reckless Index Score: 29.79
And for the state that's not to be trusted from the top, check out The Most Corrupt State in America.
38 | New York
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 519.47
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.34
Debt per capita: $7,214.24
Landfill trash per capita: 24.5 tons
Average life expectancy: 80.8
Reckless Index Score: 33.05
37 | Kansas
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 388.53
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.0
Debt per capita: $2,584.13
Landfill trash per capita: 40.6 tons
Average life expectancy: 78.2
Reckless Index Score: 33.20
36 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 394.30
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.96
Debt per capita: $3,973.07
Landfill trash per capita: 47.0 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.5
Reckless Index Score: 35.93
35 | Wyoming
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 1,037.55
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.04
Debt per capita: $1,324.65
Landfill trash per capita: 16.6 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.9
Reckless Index Score: 36.19
34 | Missouri
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 291.12
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.55
Debt per capita: $2,985.84
Landfill trash per capita: 30.1 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.1
Reckless Index Score: 36.40
33 | Maryland
DenisTangneyJr / iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.12
Debt per capita: $4,620.83
Landfill trash per capita: 20.9 tons
Average life expectancy: 78.8
Reckless Index Score: 36.82
32 | Connecticut
DenisTangneyJr / iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.68
Debt per capita: $10,908.56
Landfill trash per capita: 8.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 80.6
Reckless Index Score: 36.84
31 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.66
Debt per capita: $5,640.17
Landfill trash per capita: 40.9 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.1
Reckless Index Score: 37.07
30 | Illinois
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 83.21
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.30
Debt per capita: $4,918.44
Landfill trash per capita: 52.4 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.0
Reckless Index Score: 39.57
And for more on the place where people aren't known for their warm and welcoming personalities, This Is the Most Hateful State in America.
29 | Washington
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 801.68
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.35
Debt per capita: $4,287.29
Landfill trash per capita: 28.3 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.9
Reckless Index Score: 40.52
28 | South Dakota
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 811.35
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.13
Debt per capita: $3,934.62
Landfill trash per capita: 21.4 tons
Average life expectancy: 78.1
Reckless Index Score: 42.23
27 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.13
Debt per capita: $11,145.90
Landfill trash per capita: 16.2 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.9
Reckless Index Score: 42.47
26 | Florida
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 479.50
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 3.31
Debt per capita: $1,313.48
Landfill trash per capita: 25.1 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.1
Reckless Index Score: 42.49
25 | California
Chris LaBasco / iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 382.14
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.26
Debt per capita: $3,856.57
Landfill trash per capita: 47.8 tons
Average life expectancy: 80.9
Reckless Index Score: 43.39
And for the place where people are the most dangerous behind the wheel, This State Has the Worst Drivers in America.
24 | New Jersey
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.94
Debt per capita: $7,442.83
Landfill trash per capita: 29.0 tons
Average life expectancy: 80.5
Reckless Index Score: 43.86
23 | West Virginia
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 101.55
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.22
Debt per capita: $4,269.01
Landfill trash per capita: 29.9 tons
Average life expectancy: 74.8
Reckless Index Score: 44.43
22 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 265.44
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.52
Debt per capita: $2,119.40
Landfill trash per capita: 34.4 tons
Average life expectancy: 75.4
Reckless Index Score: 45.45
21 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 0.66
Debt per capita: $8,414.78
Landfill trash per capita: 37.2 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.3
Reckless Index Score: 46.52
20 | Tennessee
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 332.71
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.01
Debt per capita: $882.37
Landfill trash per capita: 36.8 tons
Average life expectancy: 76.0
Reckless Index Score: 47.26
19 | Alaska
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 4.94
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.9
Debt per capita: $8,175.13
Landfill trash per capita: 30.1 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.7
Reckless Index Score: 47.97
18 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 199.32
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.54
Debt per capita: $3,711.28
Landfill trash per capita: 52.3 tons
Average life expectancy: 78.0
Reckless Index Score: 48.22
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17 | Hawaii
YinYang / iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.96
Debt per capita: $6,865.81
Landfill trash per capita: 28.6 tons
Average life expectancy: 81.5
Reckless Index Score: 48.89
16 | North Carolina
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 734.48
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.17
Debt per capita: $1,524.17
Landfill trash per capita: 27.5 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.8
Reckless Index Score: 49.00
15 | Arkansas
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.06
Debt per capita: $1,582.74
Landfill trash per capita: 26 tons
Average life expectancy: 75.4
Reckless Index Score: 51.44
14 | Michigan
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 99.29
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.42
Debt per capita: $3,348.90
Landfill trash per capita: 62.4 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.6
Reckless Index Score: 51.94
13 | Alabama
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 105.57
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.19
Debt per capita: $1,777.98
Landfill trash per capita: 37.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 74.9
Reckless Index Score: 52.04
12 | Arizona
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 536.00
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 3.3
Debt per capita: $1,900.42
Landfill trash per capita: 33.9 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.1
Reckless Index Score: 54.26
11 | Nevada
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 430.13
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.6
Debt per capita: $1,019.78
Landfill trash per capita: 45.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.9
Reckless Index Score: 54.55
10 | Ohio
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 466.07
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.09
Debt per capita: $2,859.10
Landfill trash per capita: 48.8 tons
Average life expectancy: 76.6
Reckless Index Score: 55.26
9 | Delaware
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.38
Debt per capita: $4,606.10
Landfill trash per capita: 33.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 78.2
Reckless Index Score: 58.61
8 | Kentucky
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 268.83
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.63
Debt per capita: $3,214.56
Landfill trash per capita: 43.9 tons
Average life expectancy: 75.0
Reckless Index Score: 61.89
7 | Georgia
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 825.76
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.48
Debt per capita: $1,205.07
Landfill trash per capita: 33.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.2
Reckless Index Score: 63.98
And for more life-threatening places in the U.S., This Is the Deadliest State in America.
6 | Oregon
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 1,112.35
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.91
Debt per capita: $2,950.65
Landfill trash per capita: 37.0 tons
Average life expectancy: 79.2
Reckless Index Score: 65.63
5 | Indiana
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 435.72
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 1.70
Debt per capita: $3,209.49
Landfill trash per capita: 56.1 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.0
Reckless Index Score: 66.76
4 | New Mexico
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 361.28
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 3.96
Debt per capita: $3,352.81
Landfill trash per capita: 33.3 tons
Average life expectancy: 77.6
Reckless Index Score: 70.87
3 | Mississippi
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: 817.44
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 2.95
Debt per capita: $2,518.26
Landfill trash per capita: 35.3 tons
Average life expectancy: 74.5
Reckless Index Score: 93.41
2 | South Carolina
ShutterstockSpeeding tickets per capita: 1,105.68
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 3.25
Debt per capita: $2,983.17
Landfill trash per capita: 32.6 tons
Average life expectancy: 76.2
Reckless Index Score: 97.73
1 | Louisiana
iStockSpeeding tickets per capita: N/A
Pedestrian fatalities per capita: 3.52
Debt per capita: $3,910.20
Landfill trash per capita: 38.7 tons
Average life expectancy: 75.4
Reckless Index Score: 100.00
And for more on the place where money means everything, This Is the Greediest State in America.
