Where Data Tells the Story
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The number of motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 people by state in 2022.
Figures come from the National Safety Council, with data pulled from the National Centre for Health Statistics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
With 26 vehicle deaths per 100,000 people–nearly double the national average–the southern state of Mississippi has long been the worst state for fatal vehicle accidents per capita.
Speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving are some of the most common reasons for car accidents in Mississippi. In 2016, drunk driving accounted for 18% of total traffic deaths in the state.
Additionally, as a predominantly rural state, accidents on Mississippi’s less-maintained rural roads usually happen far from hospitals, delaying life-saving measures.