These US states were deemed safest, deadliest for drivers. See where Mississippi ranks

A new study ranked Mississippi as the deadliest state for drivers in the United States, based on data from a U.S. federal agency.

The study, conducted by personal injury lawyers Omega Law Group, analyzed the crash fatality rate in each state based on 2022 Fatality Analysis Reporting System data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The researchers looked at the number of car accident deaths per 100,000 people and ranked the states from highest to lowest, identifying the states where drivers are considered at risk while driving on the road.

Mississippi ranked first as the deadliest state for drivers with 23.8 crash fatalities per 100,000 residents. The study found the state's death rate is 76% above the national average of 13.6 crash fatalities per 100,000 residents.

The study also found Mississippi's road fatality rate is nearly five times greater than Rhode Island's, — with a rate of just 4.8 crash fatalities per 100,000 residents — which holds the lowest fatally rate nationwide.

Most crash deaths were attributed, in the safety administration's report , to speeding-related incidents, alcohol-impaired driving and lack of restraint (seatbelt) use.

See below the states considered most and least at risk, according to the law group's study:

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Top 10 deadliest states for drivers

1. Mississippi: 23.9 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
2. Wyoming: 23.0 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
3. New Mexico: 22.0 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
4. Arkansas: 21.1 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
5. South Carolina: 20.7 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
6. Louisiana: 19.7 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
7. Alabama: 19.5 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
8. Montana: 19.0 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
9. Tennessee: 18.6 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
10. Arizona: 17.7 crash fatalities per 100,000 population

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Top 10 safest states for drivers

1. Rhode Island: 4.8 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
2. New York: 6.0 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
3. Massachusetts: 6.2 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
4. New Jersey: 7.4 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
5. Minnesota: 7.8 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
6. Hawaii: 8.1 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
7. Pennsylvania: 9.1 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
8. Maryland: 9.1 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
9. Washington: 9.4 crash fatalities per 100,000 population
10. Utah: 9.4 crash fatalities per 100,000 population

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The full dataset can be viewed here.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: These US states were deemed safest, deadliest for drivers. See where Mississippi ranks