These Are The Most Dangerous Days Of The Year To Drive

Every time you get behind the wheel you should be following the rules of the road and practicing safe driving tips. By doing this, you can help Coastline Academy as we work to eradicate car crashes. With that in mind, there are certain days of the year when the chances of a crash happening are higher. Today we are sharing some of the most dangerous days of the year to drive.

Super Bowl Sunday

Who doesn't watch the Super Bowl? Whether it's for the game or for the commercials, the Super Bowl is the most watched annuals sporting event out there. Many people are watching and celebrating with friends and family, so traveling to and from these Super Bowl parties can be dangerous. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), not only does traffic increase over the 12-hour period (Sunday at 6 p.m. to Monday at 6 a.m.), but traffic deaths also rise.

When looking at the numbers, there were a total of 244 deaths during the five Super Bowl Sundays between 2015 and 2019. Of those 244 deaths, 46% of them were alcohol-related. Also, alcohol-related crashes were 74% higher on Super Bowl Sunday compared to the weekend prior and 82% higher compared to the following week.

St. Patrick’s Day

While March is one of the safest months to drive, according to the Insurance Information Institute, St. Patrick's Day throws those numbers off. In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says 36% of crash fatalities between 6 p.m. on March 16th and 5:59 a.m. on March 18th involved a drunk driver. In addition, between 2016 and 2020, 287 people died in alcohol-related crashes during that St. Patrick's Day period.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is normally considered the official kickoff of summer. Warmer weather is upon us and more people are venturing out for barbecues and parties. The National Safety Council (NSC) states, on average, the number of car crash fatalities over the Memorial Day weekend the past six years has been 12.4% higher than the average number of traffic deaths during comparable time periods. In 2020, approximately 41% of the total traffic fatalities that took place over Memorial Day weekend involved alcohol-impaired drivers.

Fourth of July

Another big summer celebration is the Fourth of July. People across the country are heading out on the road for cookouts, parties and fireworks. The number of traffic-related deaths fluctuate each year, as it depends on the actual day of the week the holiday falls on. For 2022, the NSC estimated approximately 462 people in the U.S. would die in traffic fatalities during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Of those traffic fatalities, 41% would also be alcohol-related.

Thanksgiving

We all just finished celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, which normally sees many people traveling and visiting family. That means extra traffic on the road, so you will want to be extra careful during your travels. AAA predicted that there would be 54.6 million people traveling 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving weekend in 2022. People are driving more during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but you can also factor in Black Friday shoppers being out on the roads and more people drinking. Statistics show that over this time period, approximately 29% of traffic fatalities also involve an alcohol-impaired driver. 

Christmas to New Year's

It's the most wonderful time of the year, right? That is what they say, which is why there are so many celebrations between Christmas and New Year's. Besides having to drive in winter weather, you also have people stressed during the holidays and there is potential for more dangers on the road during the holiday season.

Last year, the NSC predicted that around 371 people would die on the roads during the Christmas Day holiday period and another 427 people would die on the roads during the New Year's Day holiday period. Of those predictions, 36% to 38% of the traffic fatalities would involve alcohol-impaired drivers.

We know that you can't avoid driving on every one of these dangerous days. However, it is possible to go into these days knowing the roads could be more dangerous and be more defensive with your driving. Just remember to always stay safe out there!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.