Wyoming ranks as the state with the highest winter driving collision fatality rate with 4.65 fatalities per 100,000 residents, according to new data from Teletrac Navman, a global mobile asset and fleet management software provider.

Other states that ranked among the top five for winter driving collision fatalities include Mississippi with 4.01 deaths per 100,000 residents, followed by New Mexico (3.99), South Carolina (3.94), and Alabama (3.71), which came in fifth.

Surprisingly, it is primarily warmer states that are leading the way in winter roadway fatalities as opposed to icy and snowy states.

In fact, the trend continues through the top 10 rankings, with Florida coming in sixth place with a winter driving collision fatality rate of 3.50. Oklahoma ranks seventh (3.28), followed by Arkansas (3.20), Georgia (3.07), and Tennessee (3.05), which ranks 10th on the list.

Experts at Teletrac Navman hypothesize that drivers in cold, snowy states are familiar with the challenging road conditions in frigid temperatures and simply may take more precautions like slowing down, focusing, and driving with extra care.

This could account for why wintry states appear to be the safest places to drive when the temperatures plummet. In fact, Teletrac Navman found that Vermont roads are the safest in the nation, with just 0.8 fatal collisions per 100,000 residents.

Noteworthy, winter is the season with the fewest fatal car accidents, with 7,111 fatal accidents recorded in the United States during the winter months. However, drivers should never let down their guard and be extra vigilant about safety when navigating snowy roads, black ice or driving during a snowstorm.

Infographic created by TeletracNavman.com