Mississippi has been ranked as the deadliest state for driving during the Thanksgiving holiday, according to a new study. Thanksgiving is not only one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the United States, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. New analysis by researchers at the personal injury law firm Andrew Pickett Law looked at fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2014 to 2023. It determined which states had the highest number of deaths per capita during the Thanksgiving holiday period. According to the study, Mississippi tops the list as the most lethal state for Thanksgiving driving, recording 33. 77 deaths per 1 million residents during the decade-long review. That figure is 127 percent higher than the national average of 14. 88 fatalities per million. Southern states dominated the highest rankings. Alabama came in second place, with 25. 87 deaths per 1 million residents, a rate that is 74 percent higher than the U. S. national average. South Carolina followed closely in third place, with 25. 59 fatalities per 1 million, or 72 percent above the national average. Louisiana came fourth, recording 25. 12 deaths per 1 million residents, which is 68. 84 percent higher than the average. South Dakota rounds out the top five, with 24. 81 fatalities per 1 million residents, 66. 78 percent higher than the national rate. “With millions of Americans on the road this holiday season, it’s more important than ever to prioritize safety,” Andrew Pickett, founder of the Florida-based firm, said in a statement on the study. “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.” According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), at least 73 million people are expected to travel by car during the Thanksgiving travel period from November 25 to December 1. That’s nearly 90 percent of all Thanksgiving travelers, and 1. 3 million more than last year. The figure could climb even higher if some air travelers opt to drive due to flight cancellations. Last year, AAA responded to nearly 600, 000 emergency roadside calls over the Thanksgiving period, helping stranded drivers with dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks. According to the AAA, the NHTSA reports that 868 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving celebrations from 2019 to 2023, accounting for 35 percent of all traffic fatalities over that period.
https://www.newsweek.com/mapped-americas-deadliest-states-driving-thanksgiving-travel-11100405
Tag Archives: cancellations
Record 1.9 million Tennesseans expected to travel for Thanksgiving, AAA says
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready. NASHVILLE AAA is forecasting a record-setting Thanksgiving travel season in Tennessee, with nearly 1. 9 million residents expected to journey 50 miles or Nationwide, the auto club anticipates 81. 8 million Americans will travel for the holiday 1. 6 million more than in 2024 reinforcing Thanksgiving’s status as the busiest travel period of the year. AAA reports the following Tennessee travel projections: 1, 933, 203 total travelers, including more than 1. 8 million traveling by car, 51, 445 by air and 22, 649 by bus, train or cruise. Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA The Auto Club Group, said Tennesseans are “embracing the Thanksgiving spirit with record-breaking travel plans,” noting that concerns about flight cancellations may drive even more people to the roads. AAA expects nearly 73 million Americans to travel by car, a figure that includes more than 1. 8 million Tennesseans. Hertz, AAA’s rental car partner, says Wednesday will be the busiest day for vehicle pickups, while domestic rental rates have dropped 15% from last year. Gas prices are expected to mirror last year’s $3. 06 national average, and AAA urges drivers to prepare by checking their batteries and tire pressure. Last year, the agency handled nearly 600, 000 roadside calls nationwide, many related to dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks. AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving also are warning travelers to avoid impaired driving; between 2019 and 2023, 868 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving period. More than 6 million Americans are expected to fly this year a 2% increase including more than 51, 000 Tennesseans. But recent flight reductions and the possibility of cancellations could shift some travelers to alternative plans. Domestic airfares are averaging about $700 round trip, similar to 2024 prices. AAA says travelers may save by flying on Thanksgiving Day, though return flights on Sunday and Monday remain the most expensive. Haas encouraged air travelers to book early and build flexibility into their trips, suggesting early morning departures and backup plans in case of disruptions. Travel by bus, train and cruise is expected to rise 8. 5% nationally. In Tennessee, more than 22, 000 people are planning to travel by those modes. Cruise demand continues to climb, with AAA projecting 20. 7 million U. S. passengers in 2025 and 21. 7 million in 2026. AAA’s top Thanksgiving destinations include Florida for domestic travelers, thanks to theme parks and cruise ports, while international Bookings are led by Europe, the Caribbean and Australia, which offers warm spring weather during the U. S. holiday.
https://elizabethton.com/2025/11/21/record-1-9-million-tennesseans-expected-to-travel-for-thanksgiving-aaa-says/
Flight cancellations ease with end to the shutdown in sight
**FAA Air Traffic Control Tower at LaGuardia Stands in Spotlight Amid Government Shutdown**
The FAA Air Traffic Control tower at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in the Queens borough of New York has become a focal point during the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has strained the entire U.S. aviation industry.
Flight cancellations eased across the country on Wednesday ahead of a pivotal House vote on a funding bill that could end the longest federal government shutdown in American history. Lawmakers in the House were expected to vote around 7 p.m. ET on the bill, which had already been passed by the Senate earlier in the week.
The shutdown has once again raised concerns about air travel and intensified the burden on air traffic controllers, who have been required to work without receiving their regularly scheduled paychecks. On Wednesday alone, 811 U.S. departures were canceled.
Trump administration officials began requiring airlines to trim their schedules on Friday, citing safety risks and the mounting strain on controllers. However, these cuts were not enough to prevent further disruptions, as widespread staffing shortages and inclement weather led to a surge in cancellations and delays over the weekend.
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” that the ongoing shutdown will have a financial impact on the airline, though it would not be enough to erase company profits. Bastian also warned of the possibility of another shutdown in the future and emphasized that air traffic controllers should be paid if such an event occurs.
U.S. airline shares saw a broad uptick on Wednesday prior to the House vote.
Thin staffing of air traffic controllers has become a pronounced issue since the shutdown began on October 1. According to Airlines for America, an industry group representing the largest U.S. carriers, this shortage has led to thousands of flights being slowed or canceled, disrupting travel plans for an estimated five million passengers. Reports from the controllers’ union and government officials indicate that some air traffic controllers have even been forced to take second jobs to make ends meet.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, along with major airlines, warned this week that air travel will not immediately return to normal even after the shutdown concludes. “We’re going to wait to see the data on our end before we take out the restrictions in travel, but it depends on controllers coming back to work,” Duffy stated during a press conference at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Tuesday.
As the industry awaits the results of the House vote and a resolution to the shutdown, travelers and airline officials remain hopeful for a swift return to normal operations.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/flight-cancellations-ease-with-end-to-the-shutdown-in-sight/