According to new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Thanksgiving ranks as one of the most dangerous holidays for road travel.
In the months of November and December over the last five years, over 32,000 fatalities were reported in motor vehicle crashes, translating to approximately 1.2 fatal crashes per 100 million miles driven.
Contrary to expectations regarding winter weather, Northern states often report fewer fatal crashes during the holidays, making them relatively safer for drivers. In contrast, Southeastern states, led by South Carolina, exhibit higher rates of road fatalities during these months. From 2019 to 2023, South Carolina recorded over 1.9 fatalities per 100 million miles driven. Mississippi, Louisiana, Montana, and Florida follow closely in terms of danger levels for holiday driving.
Men are disproportionately affected in these accidents. They represent nearly 70% of fatalities in the final two months of the year, especially among those aged 18 to mid-30s and late 50s. Speeding is a significant factor, involved in over a quarter of these deaths. Distracted driving accounts for about 8% of the fatalities, and about one-third of the deaths occurred under adverse weather conditions, such as snow, rain, or fog.
The period around Thanksgiving, especially the Wednesday before, known as “Drinksgiving” or “Blackout Wednesday,” sees a spike in accidents involving drunken drivers. Between 2019 and 2023, over 830 deaths were reported in crashes involving drunken drivers during Thanksgiving weekends.
The National Safety Council warns that over 500 preventable traffic fatalities could occur during the Thanksgiving holiday. They advise drivers to exercise caution, especially when driving at night, avoid distractions and impairment, and consider weather conditions before embarking on road journeys during this season.
