States With the Most Dangerous Road Conditions In December

American roads have become considerably safer in recent years. Largely due to improved safety technology in passenger vehicles, increased safety standards for automakers, safer highway regulations, and advances in medical care, the motor vehicle crash fatality rate has plummeted in the last few decades. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 12.2 crash deaths for every 100,000 people in the U.S. in 2023, down from 22.7 per 100,000 in 1979.

Despite the improvement, getting behind the wheel is still one of the most dangerous things millions of Americans do every day. In each of the last three years of available data, more than 40,000 people were killed in crashes across the United States. Most automotive accidents – deadly or otherwise – are linked to behavioral factors such as distracted or reckless driving, speeding, tailgating, or driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. But weather conditions also often play a role – particularly in the winter months.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, nearly 70% of the U.S. population live in regions that report over five inches of snow per year. Winter weather conditions, including both snow and ice, can close lanes, limit visibility, reduce vehicle maneuverability, and greatly increase the likelihood of an accident. FHWA data shows that more than 2,000 Americans are killed each year in vehicle crashes when it is sleeting, snowing, or the pavement is icy – and another 192,800 are injured. 

In the United States, the meteorological winter began on December 1, and already, hazardous winter driving has taken a deadly toll. So far this month, heavy snow has caused dozens of highway crashes in parts of New England, and has been linked to fatal accidents in Missouri and Pennsylvania. But while most of the country is subject to hazardous winter driving conditions, snow and ice pose a far greater risk to motorists in some parts of the country than in others. 

Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states with the most dangerous December road conditions. States are ranked on the total number of fatal crashes over the 15 year period between 2009 and 2023 in adverse atmospheric winter conditions – including snow, sleet, and freezing rain – for every 100,000 residents who commute by carpooling or driving alone. State-level commuter data used in our calculations are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. Supplemental data on 20th century average temperature and precipitation in the month of December is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Among the states on this list, the number of deadly crashes linked to winter weather in December ranges from 4.1 for every 100,000 commuters who travel by passenger vehicle to 7.3 per 100,000. Of the 10 states on this list, five are in the Western United States, three are in the Midwest, and two are in the Northeast. 

10. New Mexico

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 4.1 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 33 (7.4% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 2.2 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 0.7 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 34.3°F

9. Michigan

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 4.2 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 171 (16.3% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 11.4 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 2.0 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 23.3°F

8. Nebraska

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 4.5 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 40 (17.5% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 2.7 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 0.6 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 25.3°F

7. Idaho

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 4.9 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 38 (17.5% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 2.5 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 2.9 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 23.9°F

6. Vermont

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 5.0 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 13 (16.0% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 0.9 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 3.2 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 20.2°F

5. Montana

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 5.6 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 26 (12.9% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 1.7 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 1.3 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 20.6°F

4. North Dakota

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 6.3 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 23 (23.7% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 1.5 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 0.5 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 12.7°F

3. Wyoming

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 6.9 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 17 (17.7% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 1.1 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 1.0 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 20.6°F

2. Maine

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 7.0 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 39 (21.1% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 2.6 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: 3.5 inches
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: 18.7°F

1. Alaska

• Winter weather fatal crash rate in December, 2009-2023: 7.3 deadly crashes per 100,000 commuters who drive or carpool
• Total fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions, 2009-2023: 21 (24.7% of all fatal crashes in December)
• Avg. number of fatal crashes in December linked to winter conditions: 1.4 per year
• Avg. precipitation statewide in December, 1901-2000: N/A 
• Avg. temperature statewide in December, 1901-2000: N/A