Survey results reported by Forbes Advisor place Kansas in the Top 10 list of worst drivers in the United States. The Sunflower State scored 86.63 out of 100, ranking eighth on the list. Forbes Advisor notes:

• There are a high number of fatal car crashes in Kansas due to drivers disobeying traffic signs, signals, or a traffic officer.

• The state has the second highest number of fatal car accidents involving a driver who disobeyed traffic signs, traffic signals or a traffic officer (1.71 per 100,000 licensed drivers).

• Kansas also ranks third highest for the number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver (4.32 per 100,000 licensed drivers).

• It has the third highest number of fatal car accidents involving a drowsy driver (1.35 per 100,000 licensed drivers).

The No. 1 Worst Drivers award went to New Mexico, with a perfect awful score of 100. Among other things, New Mexico has the highest number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver (10.16 per 100,000 licensed drivers).

Forbes Advisor also placed Kansas at No. Nine for the worst driving behavior, scoring 81.33 out of 100. (Oregon was nearly perfectly the worst, scoring 99.48).

Here is what Forbes Advisor had to say about that:

“It seems that more Kansas drivers should keep their eyes on the road. The survey shows that the Sunflower State claims the No. 2 spot among the states for texting while driving. In our survey, nearly one-fourth (22%) of Kansas respondents admitted texting while driving.”

Kansas also ties as the worst state for speeding in a school zone.

According to the survey and compared to the other 49 states, Kansas also ranks in the top 10 in these bad-driving categories:

• Changing lanes or turning without signaling (4th)

• Speeding less than 10 mph over the limit (5th), tied with Virginia

• Eating while driving (5th), tied with Maine and Vermont

• Angrily honking at another driver (6th), tied with Illinois, Maine, Minnesota and New Jersey

• Speeding up to catch a yellow light (9th)

A different study, reported by WalletHub, ranks Kansas in the Top Five for “Best Driving State.” In third place, Kansas scores well in the categories: cost to own and maintain a vehicle; access to vehicles and maintenance; safety; and traffic and infrastructure. (Iowa holds the No. 1 spot on this list.)

We don’t know if a more subjective survey ranking the state for driving pleasure exists or not. We’d rank Kansas high for scenery (although others might disagree), interesting destinations, well maintained roads, and short commutes. (That last one may be zeroed in on Great Bend, where almost any destination can be reached in well under 10 minutes.) To that extent, we’d agree that Kansans might want to pay more attention to the road and its rules — and enjoy the ride.