Christmas Roads Turn Deadly for Hundreds of Americans Each Year
Henry Hoenig
· 4 min read
Christmas turns deadly for hundreds of American drivers and their passengers each year. More than 3,200 people have died on the roads and highways over the Christmas holiday over the past decade, and about half of them were under the age of 40.
Jerry looked at the data to learn more about the circumstance and causes of these fatalities. Here is what we found.
Key Insights
- In 2021, the last year for which data is available, fatal traffic crashes during the Christmas holiday totaled 396, the most since 2018 and the third-highest number in the past decade.
- Nearly a third (30%) of all fatal crashes during the Christmas holiday involve speeding, while 27% involve drinking and 11% involve both.
- One in five (21%) drivers involved in fatal Christmas holiday crashes are men in their 20s, and 36% are men in their 20s or 30s. Nearly three quarters (74%) of all drivers involved in fatal Christmas crashes are men.
- The hours from 6 p.m. to midnight on Christmas Eve make up the deadliest six-hour stretch of the holiday period, with the most fatal crashes per hour seen from 6-8 p.m. Over the holiday period, the fewest fatal crashes occur in the early mornings, between about 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Mississippi,South DakotaandSouth Carolinaare the states with the most fatal crashes per capita during the Christmas holiday. All but one of the 10 states with the most fatal crashes per capita are located in the South or west of the Mississippi River. The only exception is Delaware.
- Delaware, South Carolina andNorth Dakotaare the three states with the highest per capita rates of deadly crashes that involve drinking during the Christmas holiday. Again, Delaware is the only state on the list that is not located in the South or west of the Mississippi.
- South Carolina,MaineandNew Mexicorank as the three states with the most speeding-related fatal crashes per capita.
- Among counties with a population of at least 1 million people, Riverside County in the Los Angeles area suffers the most drinking-related fatal crashes. San Bernardino County, also in the L.A. area, sees the most speeding-related fatal crashes, with Riverside County right behind it.
Timing Matters
The most traffic fatalities of the holiday period are recorded on Christmas Day, but that’s because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s official Christmas holiday period usually begins at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and ends at 6 a.m. on the day after Christmas. That means that Christmas Day is usually the only full 24-hour day during the holiday period.
Within that 36-hour period, after 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve is clearly the deadliest time to drive on an hourly basis. The hours from 6 p.m. to midnight on Christmas Eve make up the deadliest six-hour stretch of the holiday period, with the most fatal crashes per hour seen from 6-8 p.m. Still, 6-7 p.m. Christmas Day ranks as the third-deadliest single hour of the period.
Despite the inconsistency in the start and end to the holiday period, a broad pattern is still visible. Fatal crashes hit the lowest point in the early mornings, between about 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and then begin to rise throughout the day, peaking between nightfall and midnight.
Young men are far more likely to be involved in fatal traffic accidents during the Christmas holiday than any other demographic. In fact, more than a third (36%) of drivers involved in these accidents are men in their 20s or 30s. Women in their 40s and 50s, on the other hand, make up only 6.8%.
State Rankings
The three most populous states—California, Texas, and Florida—see far more traffic fatalities over Christmas than any other state. Tennessee, Missouri, and Arizona rank among the 10 deadliest states, though not among the 10 most populated.
Among the 10 states with the most Christmas holiday fatalities, only Florida and Georgia also rank among the 10 states with the most fatalities per capita. Almost all of the states on this list are located in the South or West.
Seven of the 10 cities with the most traffic fatalities during the Christmas holiday are located in California, Texas or Florida.
Under the Influence
Delaware ranks as the state with the highest number of drinking-related fatal crashes per capita during the Christmas holiday. Delaware is followed by South Carolina, which also ranks among the 10 worst states for speeding-related fatal crashes per capita and overall fatal crashes per capita. The Dakotas rank third and fourth in drinking-related fatal crashes per capita.
We looked at counties with a population of at least 1 million, as a proxy for urban areas. Counties from California, Texas and Florida dominate the list of counties with the highest rate of drinking-related crashes per capita and a population of at least 1 million. St. Louis County in Missouri, Las Vegas’s Clark County, and Suffolk County on Long Island, N.Y., also make the list.
High-Speed Demise
South Carolina is a clear standout among the states with the most speeding-related fatal traffic crashes per capita. It’s followed by Maine, which is joined by Vermont in a rare appearance by New England states on these lists.
San Bernardino and Riverside counties in the Los Angeles area see the most fatal traffic crashes per capita among counties with a population of at least 1 million. Again, counties in California, Texas and Florida dominate the list, which also includes two counties in Arizona.
Methodology
All traffic fatality data is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. All population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The NHTSA's Christmas holiday period starts at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve, or 6 p.m. Friday if Dec. 25 falls on a Sunday or Monday. The period ends either 6 a.m. Dec. 26 or 6 a.m. the following Monday if the 26th falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
