Indiana Ranked as One of Most Dangerous States for Winter Driving

There's no escaping the dangers of winter roads in Indiana.

While Indiana is full of roads that offer great scenery and make for a great Sunday drive, we also have a few sketchy roads throughout the state too. Whether they are very narrow, curvy, crowded with other drivers, or just full of potholes, I'm sure we can all think of a few roads that we tend to try to avoid for one reason or another. For the most part, the roads that I tend to avoid are the ones that are downright dangerous because of heavy traffic and careless drivers. These roads include major highways, expressways, and interstates throughout Indiana.

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Throw in winter weather on top of all of that, and you have quite the mess on your hands. Road conditions throughout the winter can make traveling not only a nightmare but dangerous. Recently, MoneyGeek found the 15 most dangerous states for winter driving.

MoneyGeek analyzed data from the NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System for 2019 to 2021 — the most recent data available — to rank the worst states for winter driving. Our ranking of the most dangerous states for winter driving incorporated total fatalities in winter driving conditions, the fatality rate adjusted for vehicle miles traveled in the state and the state's score on our ranking of the states with the safest drivers.

The data found that when road conditions included sleet, snow, blowing snow, or freezing drizzle, Michigan ranked as the worst state for winter driving overall, while Alaska had the highest winter driving fatality rate. It may or may not come as a surprise to you that Indiana was one of the 15 states to find itself on this list too.

Indiana Ranked as One of Most Dangerous States for Winter Driving

While Indiana did not rank in the top five most dangerous states for winter driving, the fact that it did make the top 15 is still concerning. The Hoosier State came in at number 12 on this list. On average, 403 drivers die per year on snowy or icy roads. So, let this be a reminder to drive safely this winter in Indiana. Give yourself plenty of time, drive slower with caution on icy and snowy roads, and watch out for other drivers.

While most of us can't avoid driving on icy or snowy roads in the Midwest, there are so many ways we can prevent another fatality. Keep essentials in your car, check your windshield fluid, get winter tires, keep your eyes on the road, and always be aware of other vehicles around you. MoneyGeek has great tips to staying safe this winter.