Driving this July 4th? See the most dangerous U.S. states for holiday driving, and the safest
As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, it’s interesting to note that driving on any holiday can be perilous. And depending on where you live, driving on any particular holiday can either be safer – or more dangerous.
How Dangerous Is Holiday Driving?
- Delaware recorded 93 people involved in fatal crashes per million residents during federal holidays, reporting the most fatal crashes per million residents.
- Independence Day ranked top as the deadliest holiday in 19 states across America, based on crash fatalities.
- Massachusetts is the least dangerous state, with just 18 people involved in fatal crashes per million residents on holidays.
Personal injury attorneys Phillips Law Firm examined National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data to calculate the number of people involved in fatal crashes per million residents over federal holidays, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Nationally, the total number of people involved in fatal crashes during a federal holiday stands at 51 per million residents.
Delaware ranked as the most dangerous state for holiday driving, with 93 people involved in fatal crashes per million residents. For Independence Day alone, Delaware recorded 18 people involved in fatal crashes.
Wyoming, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Alabama all tied for the second most dangerous with 88 people involved per million residents.
In Wyoming, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was the most dangerous holiday, while North Dakota saw 19 deaths on Independence Day alone.
Mississippi followed as the third most dangerous with 83 people involved in fatal crashes per million, with New Year’s Day proving the most hazardous.
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The 10 most dangerous states for holiday driving
| Rank | State | Number of People Involved in Fatal Crashes on a Federal Holiday (Per Million Residents) |
| 1 | Delaware | 93 |
| 2 = | Wyoming | 88 |
| 2 = | North Dakota | 88 |
| 2 = | South Carolina | 88 |
| 2 = | Alabama | 88 |
| 3 | Mississippi | 83 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 82 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 74 |
| 6 = | New Mexico | 73 |
| 6 = | Florida | 73 |
| 7 | Kansas | 72 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 69 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 67 |
| 10 | Georgia | 65 |
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Massachusetts saw the lowest death toll, with 18 people involved in fatal crashes per million residents during federal holidays between 2019 and 2023. Christmas Day proved the most dangerous holiday in the state, with 23 people involved in fatal crashes.
The District of Columbia ranked as the second safest, with 21 people involved in fatal crashes per million residents. The most dangerous holiday in D.C. was Juneteenth.
Maine and New York tied for third place with 23 people involved per million residents. Utah placed fourth safest with 26 fatalities per million residents during federal holidays.
Rounding out the five safest states for drivers during the holidays were Minnesota and New Hampshire, with 27 people involved in fatal crashes.
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The 10 safest states for holiday driving
| Rank | State | Number of People Involved in Fatal Crashes on a Federal Holiday (Per Million Residents) |
| 1 | Massachusetts | 18 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 21 |
| 3 = | Maine | 23 |
| 3 = | New York | 23 |
| 4 | Utah | 26 |
| 5 = | Minnesota | 27 |
| 5 = | New Hampshire | 27 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 28 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 31 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 32 |
| 9 = | Alaska | 34 |
| 9 = | Vermont | 34 |
| 9 = | Washington | 34 |
| 10 | Maryland | 38 |
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Independence Day emerged as the most lethal holiday in the US. The summer holiday led to fatal crash statistics in 19 states, including Texas, with 226 people involved in fatal crashes, California with 218, and Ohio with 109.
New Year’s Day proved most dangerous in 12 states, with Florida recording 286 people involved in fatal crashes on this single holiday.
Discussing the findings, an expert at Phillips Law Firm said: “Holiday travel often leads to a sharp increase in road traffic as more people drive to visit family or attend events. Naturally, this increased traffic also elevates the risk of people being involved in a fatal accident – especially when combined with factors like alcohol consumption, driver fatigue, and unfamiliar routes.
“Drivers should take extra precautions when traveling during holidays. It’s important to consult local traffic updates before taking to the road, and make sure that you leave yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.”
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Sources:
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – https://www.nhtsa.gov/
- Time and Date – https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/2019?hol=1
Methodology: This study analyzes data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on people involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes on holidays in the US from 2019 to 2023 to determine which holidays are the most dangerous in terms of fatal crashes, and which states have the highest and lowest rates of holiday fatal crashes per million residents.
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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