Fatal Fourth of July Traffic Crashes on the Rise
Henry Hoenig
· 4 min read
The number of fatal crashes during the Fourth of July holiday period has surged in recent years, averaging 429 annually from 2016 through 2022, up 17% from 2008 through 2015.
The holiday ranks as the deadliest summer driving holiday over the 10 years from 2013 through 2022, though behind both Labor Day and Memorial Day over the past five years.
Jerry dug into the data to see what we could find out about the circumstances of these accidents. Here’s what we found:
Key Insights
- Fourth of July ranks as the deadliest summer driving holiday period over the decade from 2013 to 2022, even though it doesn’t always fall adjacent or on a weekend, meaning fewer people hit the road for multi-day holidays.
- After reaching a five-year high of 548 in 2021 during the first summer of the COVID-19 vaccines, the number of fatal crashes during the July 4 holiday period fell 9.6% in 2022 to 452.
- Nearly half (47%) of all fatal crashes during the 2018-2022 July 4 holiday period involved speeding, drinking or drugs.
- At least 32% of fatal wrecks during the 2018-2022 holiday period involve at least one driver who tested positive for alcohol in their bloodstream. (Fewer than half of drivers are tested so the true percentage of drivers with alcohol in their bloodstream is likely much higher.)
- Nearly a third (31%) of all fatal crashes during the holiday period involve speeding, and more than one in 10 (12%) involved drugs.
- More than half (52%) of all those killed in fatal July 4 holiday crashes were under the age of 40, as were nearly two thirds (63%) of those killed in crashes involving speeding and 66% of those killed in crashes involving drinking.
- Nearly three fourths of all fatalities (73%) were male. Males under the age of 40 accounted for 38% of all those killed and 52% of all those killed in fatal crashes involving drinking.
- Among states, California (211), Texas (173), and Florida (144) saw the most fatal crashes during the July 4 holiday period, while Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota suffered the most per capita.
- Among cities, Los Angeles (17), Chicago (15), and Detroit (13) recorded the most fatal crashes during the 2018-2022 July 4 holiday period. Among the 50 biggest cities in the U.S., Detroit, Memphis, and Kansas City saw the most on a per capita basis.
Who and When
More than half of all people killed in Fourth of July traffic crashes are under 40 years old, and nearly two thirds of those killed in crashes involving speeding or drinking were under 40. Men under 40 account for more than half (52%) of all fatalities in crashes involving drinking.
Unlike the other big summer driving holidays, which fall on the Monday of a long weekend, the Fourth of July holiday itself is the deadliest day of the holiday period. This is likely because it most often isn’t on the weekend or adjacent to the weekend, meaning there are often fewer people hitting the road for extended periods.
Looking at time of day, the number of fatal crashes starts rising in the late mornings, surging after 9 p.m. The number drops slightly after 11 p.m. before jumping again after 1 a.m. as bars start closing.
States and Cities
The three most populous states see the most fatal crashes by far, while Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina experience more than their population rankings might suggest.
The Fourth of July holiday is a relatively dangerous one for Montana, which sees the most fatal crashes per capita, as well as the most speeding-related , the most drinking-related , and the most drug-related fatal crashes per capita.
Los Angeles and Chicago—two of the country’s biggest cities—suffer the most fatal crashes during the July 4 holiday. They are followed by Detroit, Memphis, and San Antonio.
Among the 50 most populous cities in the U.S., Detroit stands at the top of the list of cities with the most fatal crashes per capita during the July 4 holiday. Memphis, Kansas City, and Miami come next, while Louisville, Arlington, and Wichita also make the list.
Montana, South Carolina, and South Dakota recorded the most drinking-related fatal wrecks during the July 4 holiday period.
Montana and the Dakotas top the list of states that experienced the most speeding related fatal crashes on a per capita basis during the holiday.
Montana and Delaware are clear standouts when it comes to drug-related fatal wrecks during the Fourth of July holiday period. South Carolina, Iowa, and Wyoming follow them on the list.
Jerry also looked at large counties as a proxy for metro areas. Among counties with a population of at least 1 million, San Bernardino County in the Los Angeles area reported the most fatal crashes per capita during the Fourth of July holiday period. It was followed by Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan, and Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), Florida, and Fulton County (Atlanta), Georgia.
Among counties with a population of at least 500,000, Shelby County (Memphis), Tennessee topped the list in fatal crashes per capita during the Fourth of July holiday. Guilford County (Greensboro), North Carolina, and Jefferson County (Birmingham), Alabama ranked second and third, respectively.
Methodology
All traffic fatality data is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unless otherwise specified, all data in the study is from 2018 through 2022. All population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau. The NHTSA’s definition of the Fourth of July holiday period changes yearly, depending on which day of the week July 4 falls on.
