New research from Whitley Law Firm has uncovered the most dangerous U.S. states for school runs, with Wyoming ranking as the deadliest, based on weekday child crash fatalities per capita. The study sheds light on which states put children at the highest risk during commutes to and from school.
Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and United States Census Bureau, researchers analyzed fatal crashes involving children aged 14 and under that occurred between Monday and Friday from 2018 to 2022. The rankings were determined based on the number of weekday child fatalities per 100,000 people.
Top 10 Most Dangerous States for a School Run
| Rank | State | Child Fatal Crashes (2018–2022) | Rate per 100K People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 74 | 13.91 |
| 2 | Arkansas | 348 | 12.11 |
| 3 | Mississippi | 314 | 11.38 |
| 4 | South Carolina | 520 | 11.33 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 209 | 11.31 |
| 6 | Louisiana | 483 | 11.08 |
| 7 | Alabama | 482 | 10.54 |
| 8 | West Virginia | 147 | 10.26 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 415 | 10.05 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 385 | 9.80 |
Wyoming stands out as the most dangerous state for school runs, with 13.91 child fatalities per 100,000 people — significantly higher than the national average. Though smaller in population, the state’s per capita fatal crash rate puts it at the top of the list.
Arkansas and Mississippi follow close behind, with 12.11 and 11.38 fatalities per 100,000 people respectively. In both states, more than 300 children under age 15 were involved in fatal weekday crashes between 2018 and 2022.
States Where Kids Face Elevated Risks
South Carolina ranks fourth, with over 500 weekday child fatalities and a per capita rate of 11.33. New Mexico takes fifth place with 209 fatalities and a nearly identical rate of 11.31.
Further down the list, Louisiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma all report more than 9.8 fatal crashes per 100,000 people, rounding out the ten most dangerous states for school commutes.
Full Ranking: Top 20 Most Dangerous States
| Rank | State | Fatal Crashes | Rate/100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Tennessee | 602 | 9.52 |
| 12 | Missouri | 531 | 9.48 |
| 13 | North Carolina | 870 | 9.24 |
| 14 | North Dakota | 70 | 9.24 |
| 15 | Montana | 86 | 8.93 |
| 16 | South Dakota | 80 | 8.83 |
| 17 | Alaska | 63 | 8.55 |
| 18 | Florida | 1,507 | 8.55 |
| 19 | Georgia | 825 | 8.07 |
| 20 | Kansas | 226 | 7.98 |
While Florida reported the highest number of total child fatalities (1,507), its per capita rate is lower than Wyoming and others due to its large population. Still, Florida ranks 18th overall in terms of risk.
Expert Commentary
A spokesperson from Whitley Law Firm explained the dangers surrounding school runs:
“Mornings and afternoons are high-risk periods around schools due to congestion and distractions. Children are often rushing, using phones, or talking with friends, making them less aware of traffic. Add in the dangers of crossing streets, especially near school buses or unmarked crossings, and the risk multiplies.”
“Improving school route safety is essential for protecting children, supporting their well-being, and helping them arrive ready to learn.”
Methodology
Data on fatal accidents involving children aged 14 and under was collected from the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), focusing on crashes that occurred Monday through Friday between 2018 and 2022. Population estimates were gathered from the United States Census Bureau (2022) to calculate per capita rates. States were ranked according to their average yearly child fatal crash rates per 100,000 residents.
