Key Highlights
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As spring awakens across the Northeast, millions of New Yorkers prepare to trade city streets for open highways and scenic back roads. While the call of the open road is strong, not all spring driving conditions are equal, and a state’s safety profile can vary dramatically depending on crash history, road quality, and fuel costs.
The study conducted by Wilk Law Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers analyzed all 50 states using March and April fatal crash rates from 2019 to 2023, road condition data and average gas prices. Each state received a weighted Spring Road Trip Risk Score from 0 to 100, where lower scores indicate safer conditions.
Northeast States Ranked by Overall Spring Road Trip Risk Score
| State | National Rank | Risk Score | Fatal Crashes Per 100k | Avg Gas Price | % Unacceptable Roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 43rd | 61 | 3.7 | $3.396 | 44.75% |
| Connecticut | 35th | 52 | 5.4 | $3.448 | 29.97% |
| Pennsylvania | 33rd | 51 | 5.9 | $3.644 | 27.37% |
| Massachusetts | 23rd | 44 | 3.8 | $3.408 | 25.72% |
| New York | 15th | 42 | 3.2 | $3.469 | 24.57% |
| New Hampshire | 13th | 40 | 5.2 | $3.422 | 16.99% |
| Maine | 12th | 39 | 5.0 | $3.469 | 16.63% |
| New Jersey | 11th | 38 | 4.2 | $3.443 | 18.00% |
| Vermont | 1st | 28 | 4.8 | $3.441 | 5.15% |
New York holds a 42 risk score and ranks 15th nationally, standing as the fifth safest state in the Northeast behind Vermont, New Jersey, Maine, and New Hampshire. Rhode Island carries the region’s highest risk score at 61, driven primarily by the worst road infrastructure in the country.
Looking at the study, Tyler Wilk, founder of Wilk Law Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, commented:
“These findings show a clear national divide in spring driving safety. In practical terms, a driver in a higher-risk state can face fatal crash probabilities several times greater than someone traveling in the safest regions, and that difference directly affects how families should plan long road trips.”
Northeast States Ranked by Spring Fatal Crashes Per 100,000 Residents
| State | Fatal Crashes Per 100k | Total Fatal Crashes | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 5.9 | 770 | 51 |
| Connecticut | 5.4 | 195 | 52 |
| New Hampshire | 5.2 | 73 | 40 |
| Maine | 5.0 | 70 | 39 |
| Vermont | 4.8 | 31 | 28 |
| New Jersey | 4.2 | 386 | 38 |
| Massachusetts | 3.8 | 265 | 44 |
| Rhode Island | 3.7 | 41 | 61 |
| New York | 3.2 | 627 | 42 |
New York records the lowest fatal crash rate in the Northeast at 3.2 per 100,000 residents despite logging 627 total fatal crashes over five spring seasons, reflecting the scale of its population. Pennsylvania posts the highest rate in the region at 5.9 per 100,000, which is 85 percent above New York’s figure.
Northeast States Ranked by Percentage of Roads in Unacceptable Condition
| State | % Unacceptable Roads | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 44.75% | 61 |
| Connecticut | 29.97% | 52 |
| Pennsylvania | 27.37% | 51 |
| Massachusetts | 25.72% | 44 |
| New York | 24.57% | 42 |
| New Jersey | 18.00% | 38 |
| New Hampshire | 16.99% | 40 |
| Maine | 16.63% | 39 |
| Vermont | 5.15% | 28 |
Rhode Island leads the Northeast with 44.75 percent of roads in unacceptable condition, nearly double New York’s 24.57 percent. Vermont maintains the best road network in the region at just 5.15 percent unacceptable, contributing directly to its national ranking of first overall.
Northeast States Ranked by Average Spring Gasoline Price Per Gallon
| State | Average Gas Price Per Gallon | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $3.644 | 51 |
| New York | $3.469 | 42 |
| Maine | $3.469 | 39 |
| Connecticut | $3.448 | 52 |
| New Jersey | $3.443 | 38 |
| Vermont | $3.441 | 28 |
| New Hampshire | $3.422 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $3.408 | 44 |
| Rhode Island | $3.396 | 61 |
Pennsylvania charges the highest pump price in the Northeast at $3.644 per gallon, while Rhode Island offers the lowest at $3.396 despite carrying the region’s worst overall risk score. New York sits second at $3.469 per gallon, tied with Maine, adding a modest cost consideration for spring travelers planning longer interstate routes.
Methodology
The analysis combined three components for each state: fatal crashes per 100,000 residents in March and April from 2019 to 2023, percentage of roads in unacceptable condition and average gasoline prices. Fatal crashes and road conditions were weighted at 40 points each, gas prices at 20 points, producing a 0 to 100 Spring Road Trip Risk Score where lower scores mean safer conditions.
Data Sources
Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16CmzmiZyHbp_xL2nSbCeLiR-Pn8pHUNq4tHWv6UF1lc/edit?usp=sharing
Study By: https://wilklawfirm.com/
Gas Prices: https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/
Fatal Crashes: https://cdan.dot.gov/query
Road Conditions: https://www.bts.gov/road-condition
About Wilk Law Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers
Wilk Law Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers represents people injured in motor vehicle collisions and other personal injury incidents. The firm conducts national research to spotlight road safety risks and inform the public about changing travel conditions.
