The deadliest highways in America are revealed - with three states proving particularly dangerous and the 'least safe' responsible for nearly 4,500 deaths a year

The deadliest highways in the U.S. have been revealed, with three states proving especially dangerous.

Research suggests a huge disparity across America, with deaths in the least safe state almost at 4,500 compared to 63 in the safest.

ConsumerAffairs analyzed data from National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) to determine the top five deadliest, as well as the best states for drivers.

With 4,498 deaths in 2021, Texas was identified as the most perilous state for motorists. 

The 79,000 miles of highways in the Lone Star State saw 4,068 crashes in the same year.

Among the fatalities recorded this year was a school bus which crashed and rolled over on West State Highway 21, killing two people including a child.

Texas also recorded the most alcohol-related fatalities, with a third of motorists involved in collisions testing  blood alcohol levels (BAC) of .01 or higher.

California, Florida, George and North Carolina rounded out the top five least safe states.

The data also revealed that Mississippi is one of the most dangerous states for young drivers. 

One reason for the high number of fatal crashes is thought to be that drivers can obtain a license without taking a driving test.

Additionally, the state is among the lowest for users of seatbelts. 

'Mississippians are twice as likely to die in a car crash than the average American and more than four times as likely to die in a car crash than residents of Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York or Rhode Island,' ConsumerAffairs data analysts Alexus Bazen and Michael Dempster said in a joint statement.

The data revealed that states with stricter driving standards tended recorded a lower number of crashes.

Rhode Island was deemed to be the safest state for motorists. While it has adopted the national standard blood alcohol content (BAC) limit of 0.08, it has a lower threshold (0.05) for  young drivers under the influence.

Alaska, Vermont, Hawaii and North Dakota make up the five least dangerous states.

Lower speed limits in Vermont have been attributed to a reduced number of crashes.

Meanwhile by population percentage, New York and Massachusetts were second and third respectively for fatal collisions.