Understanding Why Mississippi's Traffic Fatality Rate Is So High

Car accidents are among some of the most significant causes of death in the United States, and certainly a significant cause of serious injury as well. Though Americans rely on cars for travel and simply commuting to work or running errands, there is an inherent risk to driving, or so statistics would imply. In fact, driving in Mississippi seems to be particularly dangerous, at least according to recent data. That data has revealed that Mississippi has the highest traffic fatality rate in the country. In 2016 alone, Mississippi had 26.27 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people. This is compared to the national average, which is 13.42, and the District of Columbia, which had the lowest rate of traffic fatalities at 4.99 per 100,000 in 2016. Comparatively, the Missouri Department of Transportation reports that the interim between 2015 and 2017 saw 377 fatalities, as well as 1,171 serious injuries across the state caused by an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle. Clearly, there is a serious issue with regard to traffic safety in Mississippi. The question for many is how the state reached the point that it became the highest ranked in the nation in terms of traffic fatalities, and what is being done to combat the problem.

The Progression Of Mississippi's Deadly Traffic Problem

Mississippi's rise to this unfortunate position did not happen suddenly. Rather, there has been a steady climb, which can be seen in data reported over the years. Between 1999 and 2016, Mississippi experienced an average fatality rate of 28.1, which was 20% higher than the next deadliest state, Wyoming. Wyoming average 23.8 deaths for every 100,000 residents. Furthermore, during that time Mississippi's actual number of fatalities was 14,786 deaths. Had Mississippi been tracking with the national average of traffic-related fatalities, that number would have nearly been slashed in half. If its rate had been on track with that of Massachusetts, the state with the lowest fatality rate, there would be 11,139 fewer people dead. Technically speaking, Mississippi's death rate has actually declined. However, that doesn't mean that it has dropped from the "top spot". After a decline, it has also been rising again, as have numbers in neighboring states. There are obviously a lot of issues that factor into car crashes in general. But the question for many is why those issues may be more potent in Mississippi, and what other issues more unique to the state could be driving car accidents.

Understanding The Reasons Behind The Car Accident Issue In Mississippi

There are many issues contributing towards the car accident issue in Mississippi, but there is one very clear issue that is more clearly unique to the state and its surrounding areas. Mississippi has a wide stretch of rural land, dotted by farms and households. In these more rural areas, the speed limit tends to be much higher, and due to the expansiveness of these roads, it's easier for people to drive even faster than those limits without being reprimanded by highway patrol. Rural roads are not only roads in which people tend to drive much faster; they're often less well-maintained, due to how far they are from cities that can more easily maintain their roads, and in general, they tend to have sharper turns and move across land that can be rougher and hillier. There is also the issue of underage driving to consider. Many teens who grow up in rural areas more likely to drive before they receive their licenses, in part because they sometimes feel that they must in order to get to school and to the further-off areas they want to visit, and in part because it's simply easier for them to escape the notice of authorities. These teens have not been properly trained to drive and may drive recklessly and be more likely to get into car accidents. This is not taking into account the problems that plague every state in terms of driving, including distracted driving, texting while driving, and driving under the influence. Mississippi struggles with these problems like anywhere else. It's also one thing for people to be getting into car accidents in Mississippi; it's another thing for them to die so frequently due to these car accidents. Rural areas again figure into this issue. A rural area tends to be further away from the types of major hospitals necessary to treat serious car accident injuries. This makes it more likely that people will die after being in car accidents within these rural areas. All of these issues line up to increase Mississippi's rate of car accident-related fatalities, but they do not explain what the state can do to combat those fatalities.

Mississippi's Struggle With Combatting Traffic Accident-Related Fatalities

Different states have different laws regarding driving, and some are stricter than others. Michigan law, for example, states that a driver under 21 can be charged with a "zero tolerance" OWI. What this means is that if they have any amount of alcohol in their systems, even if that alcohol is not influencing their ability to drive, they can be charged with that offense. This is enough to ward off many underage drivers from drinking and driving. Mississippi's traffic laws are not nearly as strict, on top of what is already a state that struggles make law enforcement fully able to properly police rural roads. Though the state has banned texting while driving and enforces backseat passenger seatbelt laws, there are many gaps in its restrictions. The state does not require rear-facing carseats for children under two, or booster seats for children under seven. There are few restrictions for teens driving at night, and teens are able to drive with a learner's permit at 15. All of this makes it easier for people to drive recklessly or without realizing the danger that they're putting themselves in, regardless of their ages. Until any change can happen, Mississippi must fully reckon with its traffic fatality problem and call upon a need for change. Until that happens, the state could be in quite a bit of trouble for the foreseeable future.