According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Christmas was a very merry one on the state’s highways compared to last year.

The 2023 holiday travel period saw fewer crashes, fewer fatalities and fewer citations compared to 2022.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol’s Christmas Holiday Travel Observation Period concluded on Monday, Dec. 25, at midnight. The period began on Saturday, Dec. 23, at 6 a.m. The 2023 holiday travel period lasted three days this year compared to a four-day holiday period in 2022.

This year, Mississippi’s highways saw a significant drop in fatal crashes compared to the year before — from 7 fatal crashes in 2022 to only one fatal crash in 2023.

The deadly crash this year occurred in Covington County. Deyounta Clark, 29, of Mount Olive was killed in a crash on Mississippi Highway 37 at approximately 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, when the vehicle left the roadway and collided with a tree.

This year, troopers issued 2,544 citations, about 50% fewer than the 2022 holiday period when 5,294 tickets were issued.

In 2023, 78 arrests were made for Driving Under the Influence, compared to 80 in 2022.

Troopers investigated 144 crashes in 2023, compared to 160 crashes in 2022.

Here are year-by-year comparisons as reported by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

2023 Christmas Travel period

• Citations — 2,544
• Crashes — 144
• DUI’s —78
• Fatal Crashes — 1
• Fatalities — 1
• Motorist Assist — 54
• Seatbelt and Child Restraint — 270

2022 Christmas Travel Period 

• Citations — 5294
• Crashes — 160
• DUI’s — 80
• Fatal Crashes — 7
• Fatalities — 7
• Motorist Assist — 218
• Seatbelt and Child Restraint — 472

 

 

 

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