Massachusetts drivers may have a reputation for erratic moves on the road, but Mainers can claim bragging rights to being ranked the worst drivers in the United States, far ahead of Massachusetts, which ranks 22nd. The Pine Tree State has a reputation for lobster rolls and lighthouses, but the state also is home to the country’s worst drivers, according to QuoteWizard, an insurance company owned by LendingTree. [Subscribe to our free morning newsletter and get the latest headlines in your inbox] “A drastic rise in traffic citations and fatalities are to blame for Maine’s jump from seventh worst last year to the absolute bottom of the bunch this year,” QuoteWizard said about the ranking, which was released Thursday. According to Maine.gov, there was an increase of more than 1,500 vehicle crashes from 2016 to 2017. Vermont ranked 11th among worst driver states, New Hampshire 19th, Connecticut 29th and Rhode Island 42nd. Nationally, Maine was followed by South Carolina, Nebraska, California and North Dakota. The best drivers were in Illinois, Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Michigan. QuoteWizard said roadway crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States and were expected to cause approximately 40,000 deaths by the end of 2018. Texting behind the wheel is a major reason for many traffic fatalities, and it’s only getting worse.