Mississippi ranks deadliest for Christmas travel

VICKSBURG, Miss., (VDN) — Once again Mississippi ranks at the top of the list but not for a positive aspect. This time the Magnolia State is the deadliest for holiday Christmas travel. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ranked the deadliest states for holiday travel from 2014 to 2023.

Key Findings:

• Mississippi leads the nation with 21.27 deaths in car crashes per one million residents during Christmas—99.58% higher than the U.S. average of 10.66 fatalities.
  
• The state recorded 63 total Christmas fatalities over the past decade (2014-2023).
  
• 66.67% of Mississippi’s Christmas fatalities were drivers, ranking the state 11th nationally for driver deaths.
  
• 12.70% of Mississippi’s Christmas fatalities were pedestrians, ranking the state 36th nationally for pedestrian deaths.
  
• Five of the top 10 deadliest states for Christmas driving are in the South: Mississippi (1st), Louisiana (2nd), Alabama (3rd), Florida (4th), and South Carolina (5th).

Last year, the National Safety Council estimated 131 people may die on U.S. roads during the Christmas Day holiday period, with alcohol impairment being the leading cause for motor-vehicle crashes.

Deadliest States for Christmas Driving: