New Study Says Minnesota Has Some Of The Safest Roads

Minnesota roads are making headlines right now, but for once, it’s not the kind you’d expect.

Because usually when traffic stories make headlines, it’s unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. Fatal crashes. Wild speeding stories. Construction chaos. Somebody refusing to zipper merge on Highway 52.

But, according to a new nationwide study, Minnesota is quickly becoming one of the safest states in America for driving. And the numbers back that up.

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According to a new report from Easton & Easton LLP, Minnesota actually ranks third in the entire country for road safety progress. Only Rhode Island and Iowa come in ahead of us.

The study analyzed fatal crash totals and DUI arrest data across all 50 states using information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the FBI Crime Data Explorer to determine the safest roads, and the numbers are quite cool to see.

Also See: The Highway Named the Most Dangerous in All of Minnesota

Minnesota saw a sharp drop in fatal crashes, going from 477 in 2024 to 372 in 2025. That’s a 22% decrease year over year and one of the strongest improvements in the country, earning the state a high “Fatal Crash Decline Score.”

For comparison, Wisconsin saw a 6.5% decline, while North Dakota was down just 5.5%.

Even more eye-opening, several states actually moved in the opposite direction with an uptick in fatal accidents. Hawaii saw the biggest increase at more than 26%, while Wyoming and New Mexico also posted double-digit jumps.

Minnesota also saw a slight dip in DUI arrests, down nearly 2% from 2024 to 2025.

Researchers say Minnesota’s improvement likely comes from a mix of stronger impaired driving enforcement, highway safety upgrades, and the state’s long-running Toward Zero Deaths initiative.