New Data Shows Crash Rates Skyrocket Nationwide Near Mother’s Day

Planning a Mother’s Day Visit? The Roads to Watch Out For.

New data shows Montana averages 7.54 fatal road incidents per 10 million residents each Mother’s Day – the highest in the nation.

Southern states account for seven of the 10 most dangerous states for Mother’s Day road fatalities.

Rhode Island is the safest state, reporting zero casualties on the holiday.

A new study by the Law Offices of James A. Welcome, personal injury lawyers, has identified Montana as the most dangerous state for Mother’s Day travel.

The study used data on fatal crashes between 2016-2022 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to determine which states had the highest number of road fatalities per 10 million residents on Mother’s Day (Sunday, 11 May).

Montana recorded an average of 7.54 fatal road incidents per 10 million residents annually on Mother’s Day. This is significantly higher (126% more) than the national average (3.34 deadly road incidents).

Oklahoma follows with 7.33 average yearly incidents occurring on the holiday, while South Carolina (6.78), Louisiana (6.21), and South Dakota (6.18), round out the top five.

Southern states account for seven of the 10 most dangerous states for Mother’s Day driving. Mississippi ranks sixth with 5.82 average yearly incidents, followed by West Virginia (5.65), and Arkansas (5.09).

Wyoming completes the top 10 with an average of 4.86 fatal crashes each Mother’s Day.

The 10 most dangerous states for Mother’s Day driving

Rank	State	Average Annual Road Fatalities (Mother’s Day)
1	Montana	7.54
2	Oklahoma	7.33
3	South Carolina	6.78
4	Louisiana	6.21
5	South Dakota	6.18
6	Alabama	6.09
7	Mississippi	5.82
8	West Virginia	5.65
9	Arkansas	5.09
10	Wyoming	4.86

At the other end of the scale, Rhode Island recorded zero Mother’s Day fatalities. Idaho was the second-lowest rate with just 0.71 average yearly incidents.

Other states with minimal Mother’s Day driving fatalities include Iowa (0.88), New York (0.93), Minnesota (0.99), New Jersey (1.05), and Connecticut (1.17).

The study also examined fatality rates across other major holidays, finding that New Year’s Day ranked as the deadliest holiday overall in many states.

Speaking on the findings, an expert at the Law Offices of James A. Welcome said:

“These figures highlight the hidden dangers that exist during what should be a day of celebration. Many families travel significant distances to visit mothers and grandmothers, creating higher traffic volumes that increase accident risk

“Mother’s Day creates a perfect storm of risk factors – increased traffic, drivers in unfamiliar areas, and sometimes alcohol consumption at celebrations. Drivers should take extra precautions around these peak travel periods, especially in states that consistently rank high for fatal crashes.

“Safety recommendations include avoiding peak travel times when possible, ensuring vehicles are properly maintained before long trips, eliminating distractions while driving, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or when fatigued.”

Methodology: Data on fatal crash incidents between 2016-2022 was sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This data was used to calculate the average yearly incidents per state. The number of incidents that occurred on various holidays was extracted and used to calculate the yearly rate of incidents on these holidays for each state. Holidays that have a variable date had the extraction date adjusted accordingly.

Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – https://www.nhtsa.gov/file-downloads?p=nhtsa/downloads/FARS/