Why Montana Travelers Need To Be On The Lookout

Montana is known for a lot of great things—but road safety isn’t one of them. According to Forbes, after analyzing multiple factors tied to drunk driving incidents, Montana scored a 100 out of 100. And no, that’s not a good thing.

Here are a few not-so-great facts to back that up:

• Montana has the highest rate of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes—8.57 per 100,000 people.
• Over 43% of traffic deaths in the state are due to drunk driving—the highest percentage in the nation.
• Montana also leads the country in drunk driving fatalities involving people under 21.

As if that wasn’t enough, a new study from Future Bail Bonds analyzed fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and found that Montana is the deadliest state to drive on the 4th of July. Yikes.

• Fatal crash rates on Independence Day in Montana are 120% above the national average.
• Montana topped the list, followed by Mississippi, North Dakota, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
• The safest state to drive in on the 4th? Hawaii—with crash rates 81% below the national average.

The stats are based on a 5-year average of fatal crashes per million residents between 2019–2023. Montana’s rate: 15.75 per million. The national average? Just 6.63.

The most dangerous time to be out driving on the 4th of July is between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Get our free mobile app

Moral of the story? Be safe this summer—especially as we head into the 4th. Between long rural roads, increased traffic, and celebrations, Montana tops the charts for all the wrong reasons.