Florida is among the deadliest states when it comes to driving during the Thanksgiving holiday stretch.
A new study by Andrew Pickett Law, a personal injury firm based on Florida’s Space Coast, found the Sunshine State ranks as the eighth-most risky state in the U.S. during Thanksgiving. The study looked at data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between 2014 to 2023 to compile the list.
“With millions of Americans on the road this holiday season, it’s more important than ever to prioritize safety. Simple steps like slowing down, staying alert, avoiding distractions, and never driving under the influence can make a real difference in preventing accidents and ensuring everyone gets home safely for Thanksgiving,” said Andrew Pickett.
The study found that the state has on average 21.9 deaths in vehicle crashes per 1 million residents during Thanksgiving over the 10-year stretch. That’s 47.3% higher than the average across the country, which sits as 14.88 fatalities per 1 million people.
In all, there were 472 fatalities combined over the 10-year period in Florida. Of those fatalities, 54.8% were drivers operating the motor vehicle. That’s 33rd in the country. Another 20.9% were pedestrians, which is 15th in the nation.
While Florida ranked in the top 10, it was far from the only Southern state ranked among the most deadly. Six of the top 10 were from the Southeast region, with Mississippi ranking first, Alabama No. 2, South Carolina No. 3 and Louisiana No. 4. Missouri came in just behind Florida, at ninth place on the list.
Across the country, the National Safety Council found there were 502 deaths on U.S. roads during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2024. Some 35% of those fatal accidents involved alcohol-impaired drivers and there were 57,200 injuries that resulted from the wrecks.
