New Study Exposes Reckless Risk-Taking Culture in Tennessee

Americans gamble with their lives in various ways, but it's clear that folks in one state are rolling the dice a little more than others.

I wouldn't exactly call myself a "risk taker," though that wasn't always the case. There was a time when I felt invincible, but after a few lessons learned the hard way, that's no longer the case. That said, there is no shortage of risk takers across the U.S., and a new survey has just identified the ones who might need a stern talking to sooner rather than later.

Exploring Risk Habits Across the U.S.

DeadSpin, the sports website (a rather ironic name, if you ask me), recently compiled a list of states where people tend to push their limits a bit more than others. The survey, which gathered insights from around 2,500 Americans, highlighted high-risk behaviors like running red lights, speeding, and delaying medical check-ups.

Many Americans Gamble with Their Lives

The survey found that 79% of Americans will eat expired food, with 16% doing so at least once a month. Yuck. On top of that, 90% of respondents regularly put off doctor or dentist visits, even when they know they shouldn’t. When it comes to traffic safety, a striking 70% use their phones while cruising down the highway among other vehicles. (DON’T DO THAT.)

Get our free mobile app

These States Have the Highest Risky Behaviors

The states where folks are pushing the limits the most include West Virginia, followed by Utah and Iowa. In fourth place was Tennessee, where an alarming number of respondents indicated they skipped their medical appointments and used a cell phone while in traffic. The Volunteer State also didn't score so well in the other categories.

These States Like to Play it Safe

On the flip side, the top three states that tend to play it the safest are Oregon, Kansas, and Kentucky, respectively. Personally, I found it fascinating how folks in the Bluegrass State had drastically different risk-taking habits from their friends just a little bit south. Hopefully, folks in Kentucky don't pick up any of those bad habits.