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Wyoming traffic death rate highest in the U.S.

Aug. 27, 2004

States with the most rural roads are reporting the highest traffic death rates, according to a report from CNN/Money

States with the most rural roads are reporting the highest traffic death rates, according to a report from CNN/Money.

Wyoming tops the list, followed by Mississippi, Montana and South Dakota. Wyoming's traffic death rate (traffic deaths per 100,000 population) sits at 33.

States with the most rural roads are reporting the highest traffic death rates, according to a report from CNN/Money

States with the most rural roads are reporting the highest traffic death rates, according to a report from CNN/Money.

Wyoming tops the list, followed by Mississippi, Montana and South Dakota. Wyoming's traffic death rate (traffic deaths per 100,000 population) sits at 33. Mississippi and Montana come in at 30 and 29, respectively, while South Dakota registers a 27.

"More rural states tend to have higher fatalities," Susan Ferguson, senior vice president for research with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, told CNN/Money.

Driver perception may play a big part in the death rate totals. According to a survey commissioned by a coalition of automotive safety and law enforcement groups 35% of drivers feel most at risk when driving on urban streets, while 32% feel most at risk driving on limited access interstate highways. Only 16% feel at risk driving on two-lane rural roads.

Ferguson also said higher speed limits and the lack of seat belt usage in rural areas also contribute to the death rate.