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Mississippi ranks as the deadliest state in Thanksgiving travel study
VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Mississippi was listed as the deadliest state for Thanksgiving travel.
The ranking, based on data from 2014 to 2023, found that Mississippi tops the list.
The data shows Mississippi leads the nation with 33.77 deaths in car crashes per one million residents during Thanksgiving, 126.98% higher than the U.S. average of 14.88 fatalities. Additionally, the state recorded 100 total Thanksgiving fatalities over the past decade (2014-2023).
Ranking the state 9th nationally for driver deaths, 69% of Mississippi’s Thanksgiving fatalities were drivers. Last year, the National Safety Council estimated 502 deaths on U.S. roads during the Thanksgiving holiday period, with 35% of fatalities involving an alcohol-impaired driver and approximately 57,200 nonfatal medically consulted injuries resulting from crashes.
