Learning to drive can be a challenging and nerve-wracking experience, especially in areas where fatal accident rates are higher than average. According to a new study by personal injury attorneys Foster Wallace, five-year data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was analyzed on drivers and pedestrians involved in fatal crashes in Kansas counties.

 Research shows between 2018 and 2022, Marion County recorded a rate of 22.07 drivers involved in fatal car accidents per 10,000 people; the highest rate in Kansas.

 However, Montgomery County has the second highest average for drivers in Kansas. 17.83 drivers were involved in fatal traffic collisions per 10,000 people between 2018 and 2022 - six times more than the rate of drivers involved in fatal crashes in Johnson County, Kansas’s safest county for drivers. In Johnson, just 2.92 drivers per 10,000 people were involved in fatal crashes between 2018 and 2022 - lower than any other county in Kansas.

 To avoid the risk of fatal crashes, drivers should plan their journeys in advance and leave plenty of time to eliminate last-minute rushing. It’s important to check weather and driving conditions before you head out. Make sure your vehicle is in roadworthy condition, check the brakes are working properly, and follow basic driving safety rules - no texting or other distractions, obey speed limits, and ensure you’re well-rested.