[Study] Thanksgiving Holiday Fatal Crashes: 2014-2018

Nearly 50 million Americans will be hitting the road for trips of 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving.  When motor vehicle traffic spikes so significantly, do fatal crashes increase as well?

At Cannon & Dunphy S.C., we wanted to find out.  Our experienced car accident attorneys worked with the data visualization and consumer safety advocacy organization Safer America to examine the last five years of fatal crash data from the NHTSA (2014 – 2018).  We identified every crash that occurred during the Thanksgiving Holiday period and compared it to the five year total.

We found that, from 2014 – 2018, there was a 20 percent increase in fatal crashes during Thanksgiving when compared to a typical day.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, alcohol-related fatal crashes increased as well, with a 29 percent spike during the holiday period.

Thanksgiving Crashes by the Numbers

We defined the Thanksgiving Holiday period as 12 pm on the day Wednesday before Thanksgiving through 11:59 pm Sunday, four and a half days (102 hours) in total for each year.  During this time there were:

• 2,308 fatal crashes
• 2,560 fatalities
• 659 alcohol-related crashes
• 765 alcohol-related fatalities

By year, 2018 had the fewest Thanksgiving fatal crashes, fatalities and alcohol-related fatal crashes of the last five years:

Thanksgiving Holiday Fatal Crash Risk by State

The map below shows which states have the highest percentage increase of fatal crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period, as compared to the daily average for that state. The darkest shade of blue identifies a region where the fatal crash risk is lowest while the darkest shade of red indicates a higher crash risk based on past data.  The map is interactive, so feel free to hover over any state on the map for additional information.

This table shows the number of fatal crashes and fatalities that occurred in each state during our defined Thanksgiving Holiday period.  The ‘Increase or Decrease’ column shows the increase or decrease in fatal crashes during this period as compared to a typical day from 2014-2018.  States are ranked by the size of this increase.  Maine, ranked number one, saw the largest fatal crash increase of (over 110 percent) during the Thanksgiving period.  Twelve states experienced a decrease in fatal crashes, led by Wyoming with a decrease of 54 percent.

Thanksgiving: Drunk Drivers in Fatal Crashes

There was a demonstrated increase in alcohol related fatalities.  We found that 28 percent of all fatal crashes during the Thanksgiving Holiday period involving drunk drivers, up from 24 percent during the full five year study period.

The table below shows the number of fatal crashes involving drunk drivers and the percentage of all holiday period crashes for each state.

Key Takeaways

It is clear that there is an increased risk of fatal crashes during the Thanksgiving Holiday.  So what can motorists do to protect themselves?

• Most importantly, don’t drink and drive.  Drunk driving accidents are fatal. If you are planning on consuming alcohol, get a designated driver or get a sober ride home.
• Rest up.  Drowsy driving contributes to thousands of crashes each year.  With the increase in traffic over Thanksgiving, being alert behind the wheel is incredibly important.
• Inspect your vehicle.  Before you get on the road, make sure that your tires are properly inflated, fluids are topped off and brakes are working properly.
• Don’t drive distracted.  Put the phone down, keep your eyes on the road and arrive alive at your destination.
• Watch your speed.  Excessive speeding is a major factor in fatal crashes, resulting in the wrongful death of a loved one.
• Drive defensively.  Expect the unexpected and be ready to adjust accordingly.

While there is a demonstrated heightened risk in being on the road during the holidays, the vast majority of travelers will make it to their destination safely.  Being aware of the danger can go a long way towards keeping yourself and your family safe on the roads.