Do You Know The Biggest Danger To Drivers In Wyoming?

The Answer May Surprise You

First, did you know Wyoming is the second most dangerous American state to drive in? The most dangerous state is Mississippi. At least, these were the stats for 2013 to 2017. Are they accurate? It’s hard to tell. There’s an old saying: if you torture the data long enough, it’ll say anything. It seems wiser to consider danger over a longer period of time than four years.

Regardless, there are a number of things to watch out for in Wyoming. For one thing, pronghorn, more colloquially known as antelope, are all over the place. There are deer, there are antelope, there are jack rabbits, moose, elk, and buffalo—though the latter big game are probably going to be more common around Yellowstone National Park than elsewhere.

Not All Wyoming Drivers Are At Their Best

Next there’s depression to consider, which does play a part in driving risk, as fatigue often results from emotionally low states. Also, many who live in Wyoming tend to drive while intoxicated—about 1 out of 83.3 drivers you encounter have something in their system. The weather is also against you. Wind in Wyoming is outright apocalyptic. It’s not uncommon for there to be gusts between 40 and 70 miles an hour in the southeast.

The I-25 comes from Colorado and zips past Cheyenne up to Casper, and from there up to Buffalo, Wyoming. It takes a long turn westward, and the elevation shifts as the interstate continues. From Cheyenne to Casper along this stretch of highway, the winds are some of the highest on the North American continent.

Crazy Winds

In the southeast of the state, elevation drops from 7,000 feet in Laramie, all the way down to around 3,000 feet near Guernsey. The result is a massive sort of wind tunnel. In that region of America are the windiest areas. When things get cold, black ice quickly develops on roadways, and even if you’re driving fine, the wind will whip you right off the road.

If the wind dies down, if the weather is warm, if the roads are clear, if there’s nobody else that may be inebriated near you, and if there isn’t any wildlife, your next big danger in Wyoming is flat-out boredom. The I-80 stretches all the way across the bottom of the state, and though there are a few areas that are scenic, for the most part it’s rolling, boring hills.

Outright Boredom

People get bored driving in Wyoming, they zone out, and they may even forget to refill their gas tank. There are stretches of hundreds of miles in Wyoming between gas stations at times. It’s not as bad as Alaska or Montana, but it’s close. People get bored, forget where they are, and incidentally drive right off the road!

The Biggest Danger Of The Bunch

So what’s the biggest danger to Wyoming drivers? Not being paying enough attention. The bottom line here is, if you’re driving in Wyoming, you need to remain alert. If you don’t, you could be putting yourself in a situation that virtually guarantees a wreck.

Drive sober. Buckle up. Assure your vehicle is in good condition, and has a full tank for long trips. Watch for wildlife. Watch for dangerous drivers. Be aware of the wind, and keep yourself awake.

Thankfully, there are a lot of empty stretches in Wyoming where you won’t encounter another soul, and the scenery is beautiful. If you’re responsible, you’ll be fine. For more tips on driving, vehicular sale, ownership, and maintenance, be sure to explore our blog at Anybody’s Autos!