Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday for driving
More than 2,400 people have died in traffic accidents on Thanksgiving in the past five years.
During holidays, traffic deaths increase 30% compared with non-holiday periods, according to online driver’s education resource Zutobi, which found Thanksgiving to be the most dangerous of all holidays to be on the roadways.
More than 2,410 people were killed in a roadway accidents on Thanksgiving during the past five years. In 2020, around 515 people were killed in car accidents during Thanksgiving weekend, according to Zutobi, which noted this was an increase of 21% compared with the year prior. On Thanksgiving, the number of traffic deaths increase 20% compared with equivalent non-holiday periods in 2020.
Slightly more than 35% of Thanksgiving roadway fatalities involve a drunk driver, according to the driver’s education site, making alcohol the leading cause of fatal car crash on the holiday. Speeding accounts for 28% of fatal accidents on Thanksgiving.
The volume of cars on the road also factors into the number of Thanksgiving traffic deaths, according to Zutobi, which noted distracted driving is starting to play a bigger role in holiday traffic accidents.
The Fourth of July sees the second most traffic fatalities, with 2,263 roadway deaths recorded around the holiday from 2016-2020. In 2020, 493 people were killed in crashes during Independence Day weekend, and the number of traffic deaths was up 35% when compared with similar non-holiday periods.
Labor Day, which saw 2,255 deaths from 2016-2020, ranked as the third deadliest holiday season for driving, while Memorial Day came in fourth with 2,161 deaths during the studied period.
Christmas Day was found to be the safest holiday among those included in Zutobi’s study. This is because most driving occurs in the days leading up to and after the holiday, with few people traveling on Christmas day itself. On average, the number of Christmas Day traffic deaths is 5% lower when compared to equivalent non-holiday periods in 2020.
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