Northeast Roads Safest, Report Says

BOSTON —  The congested roads of the Northeast are the safest when it comes to car travel, while the wide-open highways of Western states are among the most dangerous, according to a national report to be released next month.

Massachusetts, deemed the safest state for drivers, averaged 0.8 deaths per 100 million miles traveled last year, compared with a national average of 1.5 deaths, the National Safety Council found.

The densely populated Eastern states of Connecticut and New Jersey followed Massachusetts as the safest states in terms of deaths attributed to traffic accidents.

In contrast, Montana, Wyoming and Arizona were among the six most dangerous states, all recording more than 2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled last year. California had 1.1 deaths per 100 million.

Alan Hoskin, of the nonprofit safety group, said motorists drive more slowly in states where traffic is dense, so they are less likely to be involved in wrecks. When serious accidents do occur, such states also tend to have more hospitals, so victims are often treated more quickly, Hoskin said.