Key Highlights:
- Nebraska has the highest festive season fatal crash rate at 2.12 per 100,000 residents.
- New Mexico (1.97) and South Carolina (1.45) follow in second and third place.
- Iowa reported 0.29 crashes per 100,000 residents, the lowest in the U.S.
A new study reveals that between 2019 and 2023, Nebraska recorded the highest rate of festive season fatal crashes in the United States.
America’s Festive Fatality Hotspots
The research by personal injury lawyers at H&P Law analyzed festive season fatal crash data (October through January) from all 50 U.S. states, sourced from the CDAN Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The study identifies the states most affected by deadly holiday travel by calculating average festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents between 2019 and 2023.
Top 10 States for Festive Season Crashes
Nebraska ranks first with an average of 2.12 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, 161.7% higher than the national average of 0.81 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. Between 2019 and 2023, the Cornhusker State, home to 1,961,535 residents, averaged 42 festive season fatal crashes yearly. Crashes peaked in 2019 (9 crashes) and were lowest in 2020 (2 crashes).
New Mexico ranks second with an average of 1.97 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, 143.2% above the national average of 0.81 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. With a population of 2,111,782, the Land of Enchantment recorded an average of 42 fatal crashes annually between 2019 and 2023. The most festive season crashes occurred in 2021 and 2022 (46 crashes each), while the lowest was in 2020 (36 crashes).
South Carolina ranks third with an average of 1.45 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, 79.0% above the national average of 0.81 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. The Palmetto State, home to 5,225,552 residents, recorded an average of 76 festive season fatal crashes yearly from 2019 to 2023. Festive season crashes peaked in 2021 (85 crashes) and were lowest in 2019 (66 crashes).
Looking at the study, a spokesperson from H&P Law commented:
“Holiday travel often combines high traffic, unpredictable weather, and impaired driving, a deadly mix that can turn celebrations into tragedy. These findings remind us that every festive journey deserves caution, not complacency.
“The states leading this ranking highlight the need for enhanced enforcement and awareness during the holidays, from tougher DUI checkpoints to improved driver education. Safety should be the season’s most important gift.”
Arizona ranks fourth with an average of 1.42 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, 75.3% higher than the national average of 0.81 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. Between 2019 and 2023, the Grand Canyon State, with a population of 7,306,451, averaged 104 fatal crashes yearly. The most festive season crashes occurred in 2022 (126 crashes), while the lowest count was in 2019 (91 crashes).
Florida ranks fifth with an average of 1.38 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, 70.4% higher than the national average of 0.81 festive season fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. Among its 21,941,143 residents, the Sunshine State averaged 303 crashes annually between 2019 and 2023. Festive season Crashes peaked in 2021 (324 crashes) and were lowest in 2019 (265 crashes).
Louisiana ranks sixth with 1.33 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents during the festive season, followed by Delaware in seventh with 1.28. California ranks eighth with 1.15, Georgia ranks ninth with 1.12, and Arkansas rounds out the top ten with 1.07.
Table of Extended Results
The study was conducted by H&P Law, an experienced personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting clients’ rights and maximizing claim value.
Methodology
This research analyzed festive season fatal crash data (October through January) between 2019 and 2023 across all 50 U.S. states, sourced from the CDAN Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The study identified where fatal crashes are most frequent during the festive season by comparing state populations with average annual fatal crash counts.
This article was written for WHN by Tonisha, who is a content creator who works with a number of clients and campaigns to provide helpful information on a variety of high-quality platforms.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
- Festive Season Fatal Crash Data: https://cdan.dot.gov/query
- Research Data Set: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19Ggpy5-Sm2Rpbr1I4gIsMRefzEJz_Q_YHP3HV3f9vCM/edit?gid=1178458329#gid=1178458329
- Study By: http://www.courtroomproven.com
