A new winter traffic safety study from John Foy & Associates is challenging one of America’s most common assumptions: that the deadliest winter roads are primarily in the snowiest parts of the country. An analysis of U.S. winter crash fatalities from 2019 through 2023 found that 59,887 people died in motor vehicle crashes during winter months (December through March), and the highest fatality burden was not concentrated in the coldest regions.
While winter weather plays a measurable role in crash risk, nearly 40% of weather-related crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy surfaces, plus an additional 15% in active snowfall or sleet. The study found that regional winter death totals align more strongly with population size, traffic volume, and dangerous driving behaviors than with snowfall alone.
The Southeast Records the Most Winter Traffic Deaths
Across the five years, the Southeast recorded 20,026 winter fatalities, roughly 33% of all U.S. winter traffic deaths—making it the deadliest winter region in the nation. The study’s Southeast grouping included: DE, DC, KY, MD, NC, VA, WV, AL, FL, GA, SC, and TN.
What makes this finding especially striking is that many parts of the Southeast experience comparatively mild winters. The study points to behavior and exposure as key explanations: higher traffic volume, dense travel corridors, and, most notably, drunk driving as the leading winter fatality factor in the region, followed by speeding. In other words, winter risk in the Southeast is less about deep snow and more about drivers encountering winter darkness, holiday travel, and impaired driving patterns on busy roads.
The West Ranks Second, Driven by Size, Distance, and Speed
The West recorded 13,154 winter fatalities, ranking second nationally. The region includes large and diverse states such as California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, and Hawaii. The study suggests that long travel distances, rural road exposure, and high-speed roadways contribute to elevated fatality counts. In the West, speeding was identified as the primary factor, closely followed by drunk driving.
Southwest and Midwest: High Totals, Different Risk Profiles
The Southwest (LA, MS, NM, OK, TX) recorded 10,687 winter fatalities, with Texas playing a major role in the region’s high total. In the Southwest, drunk driving was the leading contributor, closely followed by speeding.
The Midwest recorded 10,612 winter fatalities (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI, AR, IA, KS, NE, MO). The study notes that this total may appear lower than expected given the region’s harsh winter conditions, suggesting that experience with winter driving, infrastructure readiness, and winter-specific driving behavior may mitigate some risk. In the Midwest, speeding narrowly led as the main factor, followed by drunk driving.
The Northeast Has the Fewest Winter Fatalities—Despite Severe Winter Weather
The Northeast recorded the lowest winter fatality total at 5,408 (ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, CT, NJ, NY, PA), despite frequent snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. In the Northeast, speeding narrowly edged out drunk driving as the leading factor. The study suggests that the region’s comparatively lower fatal totals may reflect a combination of infrastructure preparedness, driver familiarity with winter conditions, and different travel patterns.
Georgia Spotlight: December and March Drive More Than Half of Winter Deaths
The study also highlights state-level patterns, with Georgia standing out as one of the nation’s highest-burden winter states. From 2019 to 2023, Georgia recorded 2,739 winter traffic fatalities across January, February, March, and December.
In Georgia, December was the deadliest winter month with 747 deaths (27%), followed closely by March with 720 deaths (26%). January recorded 637 deaths (23%), and February recorded 635 deaths (23%). Together, December and March account for more than half of Georgia’s winter fatalities, reflecting the combined risks of holiday travel, late-winter driving, and changing seasonal conditions.
Georgia’s annual winter totals followed the broader national trend: rising from 486 deaths in 2019 to a peak of 612 in 2022, then dipping to 532 in 2023. December was the highest winter fatality month in Georgia across three of the five years analyzed.
Top Winter Fatality States: Big, Busy, and Not Always “Winter States”
At the national level, the study found that winter crash fatalities were dominated by three large states: Texas (6,610), California (6,542), and Florida (6,142). Together, these states accounted for nearly one-third of all winter deaths during the study period—reinforcing the role of population size, vehicle miles traveled, and traffic volume.
Georgia ranked fourth nationally with 2,739 winter fatalities, followed by North Carolina (2,344) and Arizona (1,924). The rest of the top ten included Tennessee (1,802), Ohio (1,689), South Carolina (1,643), and Pennsylvania (1,626)—a mix of Southern and Northern states that underscores the study’s core conclusion: winter crash risk is not limited to cold climates.
The Takeaway: Winter Risk Follows People, Roads, and Behavior
The study concludes that winter driving danger is shaped by more than snowfall. Regional winter fatality burdens align strongly with traffic exposure, roadway design, enforcement patterns, and dangerous behaviors, especially drunk driving and speeding. The findings support targeted seasonal safety efforts that focus on the regions and months carrying the heaviest toll, with special attention to December’s recurring spike and high-burden states like Georgia.
Winter safety isn’t just about snow tires; it’s about safer decisions when winter conditions meet heavy travel and high-risk behavior.
