Holiday Crash Statistics: Christmas, New Year's Among The Deadliest Times To Drive On The Road

Millions of Americans were expected to be traveling to see loved ones and friends to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s, among other days of reverie this holiday season. If traveling long-distance, the vast majority of those making a trip take personal vehicles like cars. With wintry conditions predicted and a roughly 23 percent increase in voyagers — that can mean more accidents.

During both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons, crash fatalities can increase by nearly 25 percent. While crash deaths can occur at roughly 117 a day during the rest of the year, holiday travel boosts that figure to about 156, according to data from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis. The reason for the bump is pretty simple: The risk of a crash is always higher when there are more cars on the road (rush hour, for instance) and when there is inclement weather. As it turns out, folks are more likely to have a few cocktails before getting behind the wheel during the holidays, as well. In fact, DUI charges are highest between the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and New Year’s weekend, according to BACTrack.

Roadway crashes have a devastating impact on public health both in the United States and globally, according to data form the Association for Safe International Road Travel. There are 1.3 million people who die on the road every year and 37,000 of those deaths occur in the U.S. There are an additional 20 to 50 million people injured or disabled worldwide each year, and 2.35 million of those are in America. Car crashes are the leading killer of people aged 18-29 and the second leading cause of death among people aged 5-14.

Vehicular accidents also have a large financial impact. Crashes in the United States cost the U.S. roughly $230.6 billion each year, which comes out to about $820 per person.