American roads can be more dangerous than they may appear according to a recent analysis of the world’s safest and most dangerous roads from Zutobi.  -  Photo:  Unsplash.com/Luo Lei

American roads can be more dangerous than they may appear according to a recent analysis of the world’s safest and most dangerous roads from Zutobi.

Photo: Unsplash.com/Luo Lei

For the second consecutive year, the United States ranks third in the world on Zutobi’s annual list of the most dangerous countries to drive. Our nation was only outdone only by South Africa, which took the top spot on the list, followed by Thailand, which ranks as the second most dangerous country for driving.

In the U.S., the estimated road traffic death rate per 100,000 population was 12.7 as compared with a rate of just two in Iceland — the country with the lowest road traffic death rate.

Zutobi analyzed countries across the world based on indicators including motorway speed limits, seat belt compliance, blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers, and road traffic death rates, to determine the world’s safest and most dangerous countries to drive.

Several factors boost the “danger” quotient for the U.S. For example, the U.S. has one of the highest maximum motorway speed limits of all countries, specifically 130 kph or 80.78 mph. This is matched by several other countries but surpassed only by Poland with a maximum speed limit of 140 kph.

The U.S. also does poorly as it concerns impaired driving. Our nation ranks eighth out of 53 countries when it comes to road deaths attributed to alcohol — with 29 deaths as compared to just 0.1 in Malaysia, 1.9 in Armenia, and 3.3 in Turkey, the countries with the fewest deaths linked to alcohol use.

Additionally, the U.S. is among the countries with the highest legal limit for blood alcohol concentration, at 0.08%. Other countries with the same blood alcohol concentration limit include the United Kingdom, Guyana, and Malaysia.

Other countries that ranked among the top 10 for most dangerous places to drive on Zutobi’s list include Argentina, which came in fourth, followed by India, Croatia, Bosnia, Malaysia, Bolivia, and Peru.

As for the world’s safest countries to drive, Norway earned the top spot for the second year in a row followed by Iceland and Estonia.

About the author
Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Editorial

Our team of enterprising editors brings years of experience covering the fleet industry. We offer a deep understanding of trends and the ever-evolving landscapes we cover in fleet, trucking, and transportation.  

View Bio
0 Comments