The average American spends more than 18 hours a week behind the wheel, and they certainly don’t follow all the rules of the road every second they’re driving. You’ll probably end up with a warning or a small fine if you’re caught rolling through a stop sign or driving without a functioning tail light, but other offenses aren’t taken so lightly. Two such offenses – speeding and drunk driving – are often met with severe penalties and restrictions, but that’s not the case in every state.
To see how each state penalizes drivers who speed and drive drunk, the website WalletHub.com independently assessed how harshly each state cracks down on drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving and the insurance increases associated with each offense. This allowed them to come up with a list of the strictest and most lenient states when it comes to drunk driving and speeding.
The Strictest States For Dangerous Driving Behaviors
It probably comes as no surprise to anyone who has been pulled over in Illinois, but the state comes down pretty harshly on poor driving behaviors. Illinois is actually ranked as the seventh strictest state in the nation when it comes to DUI and speeding penalties. Here’s a look at the top 10.
1. Arizona
2. Alaska
3. Georgia
4. West Virginia
T5. Virginia
T5. Delaware
7. Illinois
T8. Oregon
T8. Oklahoma
T10. Colorado
T10. Kansas
Most Lenient States For Drunk Driving and Speeding
On the flip side, here’s a look at the states that don’t aggressively punish drunk drivers and speeders.
1. South Dakota
2. Pennsylvania
3. North Dakota
4. Ohio
5. Michigan
6. New Jersey
7. Mississippi
8. Montana
9. Washington D.C.
10. Rhode Island
It’s an interesting mix of states, especially when you consider that while a bunch of Midwestern states make the list of most lenient, Illinois goes in the opposite direction and really cracks down on poor driving behaviors. Because of this, if you find yourself in a sticky situation when you’re behind the wheel, it’s imperative that you call a traffic attorney to help you win your case. Reach out to us if you need help.
Click here to see the expanded rankings on WalletHub.com