The most dangerous states for car accidents

According to figures from the U.S. government, 35,092 people died in car-related accidents in the U.S. in 2015 — a 7.2 percent increase in traffic deaths from 2014.

Why the recent uptick in traffic fatalities? The National Safety Council suggests that declining gas prices have resulted in people driving longer distances. The organization also notes that today's drivers are more distracted than ever, and are more likely to use social media behind the wheel.

Regardless, while driving fatalities have increased nationwide, some states are more dangerous than others. Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, data analysts used the total number of car-related fatalities for each state from 2000 to 2015 to rank the deadliest states for car accidents. They then found the average number of fatalities each year per 100,000 people. States are ranked by the average fatalities per year, from least to most dangerous. In the event of a tie, states are listed in ascending order by the total number of fatalities.

Notably, the states that dominate the top of this list tend to be more rural, while states with big urban cores like New York, New Jersey and California rank toward the bottom. This is likely because rural residents face longer commutes and driving distances than their urban counterparts. Urban residents are also more likely to walk, bike or use public transportation.

*Note: Not all of the images in the story depict crashes from each state and the images do not specifically portray fatal car accidents.

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 6.15
Total Fatalities: 6,393
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 30.47%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 6.80
Total Fatalities: 21,001
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 25.38%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 6.94
Total Fatalities: 1,176
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 45.83%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 7.58
Total Fatalities: 10,546
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 30.21%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 8.14
Total Fatalities: 4,592
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 38.07%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 8.53
Total Fatalities: 8,789
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 41.86%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 9.17
Total Fatalities: 18,596
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 39.98%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 9.27
Total Fatalities: 1,949
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 43.87%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 9.46
Total Fatalities: 7,842
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 35.32%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 9.78
Total Fatalities: 2,032
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 35.63%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 9.82
Total Fatalities: 57,092
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 35.37%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 10.12
Total Fatalities: 9,150
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 36.79%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 10.38
Total Fatalities: 19,072
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 37.40%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 10.76
Total Fatalities: 17,165
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 32.96%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 10.84
Total Fatalities: 4,450
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 19.30%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 11.04
Total Fatalities: 13,636
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 35.93%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 11.18
Total Fatalities: 1,214
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 38.30%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 11.25
Total Fatalities: 6,655
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 36.23%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 11.26
Total Fatalities: 22,613
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 35.97%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 11.66
Total Fatalities: 1,159
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 36.67%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 11.83
Total Fatalities: 9,069
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 39.08%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 12.15
Total Fatalities: 10,849
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 42.11%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 12.94
Total Fatalities: 2,725
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 34.57%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 13.02
Total Fatalities: 13,253
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 26.85%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 13.14
Total Fatalities: 6,318
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 24.11%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 13.18
Total Fatalities: 5,224
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 36.03%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 13.53
Total Fatalities: 3,873
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 35.79%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 14.14
Total Fatalities: 1,954
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 40.84%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 14.67
Total Fatalities: 55,899
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 31.97%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 15.18
Total Fatalities: 6,784
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 31.52%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 15.80
Total Fatalities: 23,234
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 25.86%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 16.00
Total Fatalities: 3,754
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 34.12%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 16.00
Total Fatalities: 23,098
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 34.37%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 16.00
Total Fatalities: 46,299
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 31.53%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 16.35
Total Fatalities: 15,613
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 32.27%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 16.92
Total Fatalities: 15,832
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 35.37%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 17.77
Total Fatalities: 1,919
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 47.26%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 18.34
Total Fatalities: 17,960
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 29.25%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 18.89
Total Fatalities: 13,636
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 35.92%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 19.38
Total Fatalities: 13,147
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 29.44%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 19.50
Total Fatalities: 11,400
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 33.41%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 19.59
Total Fatalities: 2,487
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 40.45%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 19.96
Total Fatalities: 5,846
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 36.79%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 20.59
Total Fatalities: 6,474
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 39.70%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 20.96
Total Fatalities: 15,606
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 30.15%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 21.17
Total Fatalities: 9,587
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 31.61%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 21.66
Total Fatalities: 15,292
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 42.41%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 24.16
Total Fatalities: 3,716
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 47.31%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 26.42
Total Fatalities: 12,349
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 23.47%

Average Fatalities in a Year (per 100,000): 28.62
Total Fatalities: 2,446
Percent of Fatalities Related to Alcohol: 38.35%