Mississippi ranks as deadliest state for U.S. road fatalities

In 2024, the United States recorded 39,254 motor vehicle crash deaths, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the U.S. Department of Transportation. This represents 11.5 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.19 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Mississippi reported the highest fatality risk in the country, with 1.81 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled and a population-based rate of 25.6 deaths per 100,000 residents. Other states with high fatality rates per mile driven include Arizona, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

While Texas, California, and Florida recorded the highest total number of fatalities—4,160, 3,876, and 3,138 respectively—they did not rank among the five deadliest states by miles driven. Massachusetts recorded the lowest fatality rate per mile driven at 0.59, while Rhode Island had the lowest population-based fatality rate.