Road Trips In New Mexico Are The Most Dangerous In The USA

Hold the jokes about drivers from New Mexico being terrible, that's not the reason the land of enchantment is so dangerous to drive in. Well, not the only one anyway ...

New Mexico offers some of the most beautiful drives in the country and is loaded with scenic highways, beautiful views and weird road trip destinations. Be careful though, it's the most dangerous state in the USA for driving.

The jokes about NM's bad drivers aren't just jokes though and there are other things there to worry about.

According to islands.com, New Mexico barely beat Wyoming as far as being the most dangerous state to drive in. That's partly because of bad drivers but also, (moreso), bad driver behavior. Drinking, speeding and racing as well as ignoring signals, signs and laws racked up 25.65 fatal car accidents per 100,000 drivers.

The Roads Themselves Are Bad

New Mexico's infrastructure is terrible and don't expect it to get better any time soon. Roads and bridges are in disrepair, funding for construction is low and there's a labor shortage so they don't have enough people to work on the projects that do get funded.

Other Dangers and Situations

Most of the state is, shall we say, rural so there aren't as many gas stations in some areas. This ones easy to deal with though, just plan accordingly. Figure out your route ahead of time, look up gas stations along it and gas up at every opportunity. Access to garages and repair shops may be limited too

From wildlife to escaped livestock, keep your eyes open for big animals making sudden appearances. Roads can also be narrow and loaded with sharp curves. Watch for high winds that can kick up suddenly in NM that make driving hazardous and can reduce visibility to zero. Read some wind safety tips here.

Don't Write New Mexico Off

The land of enchantment is very enchanting indeed and way too beautiful to miss. Just plan ahead, know your route ahead of time, watch for big animals, keep your wits about you and enjoy the ride.