Washington Ranks Better Than Expected for New Drivers

I’ve written a lot about driving in Washington state, and that’s because I did it for my full-time job for over 13 years. I’d consider myself pretty good at it: no wrecks that were my fault, and only two tickets to date (a seatbelt and parking).

READ MORE: A Washington Driving Hack, BORN In Yakima!

But learning to drive scared the crap out of me. Turns out, Washington is a little safer when it comes to beginning drivers than expected. We have the details below.

Driving Is Scary!

I ended up not getting my driver’s license until I was close to 17 years old. I’m not going to lie, I was scared. One of the first things my father taught me about driving was how it’s a tool and a responsibility. A car can be a 2-ton bullet, so you need to be careful.

a woman sitting in a car with a steering wheel

I guess the thought of knowing I could have an accident and kill someone really got to me, because it took the death of a family member for me to finally get my license. No, nothing like that. I always promised my grandmother that when I got my license I’d take her out on the weekends to go to yard sales, thrift shopping, etc. Sadly, she passed away when I was 16, before I took my driver’s test. I let one opportunity and promise slip through my fingers because of my fear, never again.

Growing up in Naches and driving around the Yakima Valley had its ups and downs, and then working graveyard shift at the radio station had me driving in the middle of the night, and when I got a job for a medical lab, that took my driving adventures all over the Pacific Northwest.

I saw my fair share of wrecks, collisions, and accidents. Thankfully, the ones that I was involved in, I can count on one hand. But I will say, when I see a car marked with “Student Driver,” I give them a lot of space, because I remember what it was like to be new to it.

Not The Best, Not The Worst For New Washington Drivers

Money Geek looked across the country and crushed the data between crash rates, insurance cost/premiums, Laws and licensing strengths, road conditions, and more.

Washington fell a little better than average at 32nd place (1st place is the worst). Other states in the Pacific Northwest were better and worst. Oregon was a bit safer coming in 40th, and Idaho was much worse coming in 12th place.

The safest state for new drivers is Massachusetts, while the WORST state for new drivers is Florida.

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For the full report and more in-depth breakdown, visit MoneyGeek.com.