Holidays – Auto Accidents and Drunk Driving Crash Statistics
Holidays are some of the most deadly and dangerous times to drive. Many more people are driving on the road to visit family and attend parties, and drunk driving accidents increase.
The following include both national and Pennsylvania statistics for accidents during holiday periods and holiday accidents involving alcohol.
Pennsylvania Car Accident Statistics - 2014 Holiday Statistics
Total Pennsylvania Holiday Crashes
| Holiday | Crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 283 | 0 |
| Post-New Year's | 363 | 2 |
| Pre-Memorial Day | 975 | 13 |
| Memorial Day | 915 | 12 |
| Post-Memorial Day | 1,005 | 14 |
| Pre-Independence Day | 1,008 | 13 |
| Independence Day | 879 | 15 |
| Post-Independence Day | 966 | 14 |
| Pre-Labor Day | 1,044 | 20 |
| Labor Day | 858 | 24 |
| Post-Labor Day | 962 | 12 |
| Pre-Thanksgiving | 1,841 | 10 |
| Thanksgiving | 1,256 | 11 |
| Post-Thanksgiving | 1,531 | 16 |
| Pre-Christmas | 450 | 2 |
| Christmas | 263 | 2 |
Pennsylvania Car Accident Statistics - 2013 Holiday Statistics
Total Pennsylvania Holiday Crashes
| Holiday | Crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 282 | 5 |
| Post-New Year's | 398 | 4 |
| Pre-Memorial Day | 1,105 | 16 |
| Memorial Day | 878 | 11 |
| Post-Memorial Day | 1,057 | 10 |
| Pre-Independence Day | 427 | 4 |
| Independence Day | 359 | 6 |
| Post-Independence Day | 369 | 2 |
| Pre-Labor Day | 913 | 16 |
| Labor Day | 874 | 16 |
| Post-Labor Day | 923 | 15 |
| Pre-Thanksgiving | 1,853 | 20 |
| Thanksgiving | 1,168 | 12 |
| Post-Thanksgiving | 2,392 | 20 |
| Pre-Christmas | 514 | 2 |
| Christmas | 285 | 5 |
Pennsylvania Car Accident Statistics - 2012 Holiday Statistics
Total Pennsylvania Holiday Crashes
| Holiday | Crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 766 | 5 |
| Post-New Year's | 889 | 9 |
| Pre-Memorial Day | 1,112 | 14 |
| Memorial Day | 954 | 16 |
| Post-Memorial Day | 1,133 | 16 |
| Pre-Independence Day | 379 | 13 |
| Independence Day | 342 | 2 |
| Post-Independence Day | 365 | 7 |
| Pre-Labor Day | 1,018 | 7 |
| Labor Day | 972 | 15 |
| Post-Labor Day | 1,087 | 14 |
| Pre-Thanksgiving | 1,497 | 18 |
| Thanksgiving | 1,433 | 18 |
| Post-Thanksgiving | 1,368 | 17 |
| Pre-Christmas | 426 | 2 |
| Christmas | 392 | 5 |
Pennsylvania Car Accident Statistics - 2011 Holiday Statistics
Total Pennsylvania Holiday Crashes
| Holiday | Crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 486 | 8 |
| Post-New Year's | 1750 | 5 |
| Pre-Memorial Day | 1073 | 14 |
| Memorial Day | 948 | 20 |
| Post-Memorial Day | 1032 | 13 |
| Pre-Independence Day | 989 | 13 |
| Independence Day | 891 | 14 |
| Post-Independence Day | 980 | 23 |
| Pre-Labor Day | 1019 | 10 |
| Labor Day | 1046 | 17 |
| Post-Labor Day | 922 | 11 |
| Pre-Thanksgiving | 1484 | 13 |
| Thanksgiving | 1232 | 19 |
| Post-Thanksgiving | 1487 | 17 |
| Pre-Christmas | 1388 | 14 |
| Christmas | 825 | 7 |
Pennsylvania Alcohol-Related Crashes
In 2011, 13 percent of all holiday accidents involved alcohol. 41 percent of deaths that occurred during holiday weekends were related to alcohol use.
| Holiday | Crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 112 | 7 |
| Post-New Year's | 142 | 2 |
| Pre-Memorial Day | 112 | 3 |
| Memorial Day | 143 | 10 |
| Post-Memorial Day | 130 | 5 |
| Pre-Independence Day | 141 | 3 |
| Independence Day | 146 | 6 |
| Post-Independence Day | 120 | 6 |
| Pre-Labor Day | 119 | 5 |
| Labor Day | 188 | 8 |
| Post-Labor Day | 134 | 5 |
| Pre-Thanksgiving | 158 | 7 |
| Thanksgiving | 180 | 8 |
| Post-Thanksgiving | 181 | 7 |
| Pre-Christmas | 162 | 6 |
| Christmas | 126 | 2 |
National Car Accident Statistics (2009) – Holidays
Persons Killed and Percent Alcohol-Impaired During Holidays
New Year's Day
| Year | Number of People Killed | Percent Alcohol-Impaired Driving |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 472 | 38 |
| 2006 | 456 | 42 |
| 2007 | 391 | 40 |
| 2008 | 424 | 41 |
| 2009 | 468 | 40 |
Memorial Day
| Year | Number of People Killed | Percent Alcohol-Impaired Driving |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 532 | 39 |
| 2006 | 511 | 40 |
| 2007 | 492 | 37 |
| 2008 | 425 | 41 |
| 2009 | 473 | 42 |
Fourth of July
| Year | Number of People Killed | Percent Alcohol-Impaired Driving |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 591 | 44 |
| 2006 | 659 | 37 |
| 2007 | 202 | 45 |
| 2008 | 494 | 44 |
| 2009 | 410 | 40 |
Labor Day
| Year | Number of People Killed | Percent Alcohol-Impaired Driving |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 507 | 40 |
| 2006 | 508 | 37 |
| 2007 | 520 | 42 |
| 2008 | 493 | 40 |
| 2009 | 360 | 38 |
Thanksgiving
| Year | Number of People Killed | Percent Alcohol-Impaired Driving |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 629 | 37 |
| 2006 | 635 | 34 |
| 2007 | 553 | 35 |
| 2008 | 507 | 35 |
| 2009 | 411 | 34 |
Christmas
| Year | Number of People Killed | Percent Alcohol-Impaired Driving |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 402 | 40 |
| 2006 | 395 | 42 |
| 2007 | 478 | 38 |
| 2008 | 426 | 32 |
| 2009 | 262 | 37 |
Pennsylvania Car Accident Statistics - 2010 Holiday Statistics
Total Pennsylvania Holiday Crashes
| Holiday | Crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 974 | 6 |
| Post-New Year's | 1096 | 11 |
| Pre-Memorial Day | 1027 | 8 |
| Memorial Day | 962 | 17 |
| Post-Memorial Day | 997 | 7 |
| Pre-Independence Day | 919 | 19 |
| Independence Day | 995 | 18 |
| Post-Independence Day | 1137 | 13 |
| Pre-Labor Day | 1046 | 23 |
| Labor Day | 955 | 11 |
| Post-Labor Day | 1012 | 17 |
| Pre-Thanksgiving | 1425 | 19 |
| Thanksgiving | 1389 | 24 |
| Post-Thanksgiving | 1538 | 12 |
| Pre-Christmas | 1235 | 20 |
| Christmas | 1149 | 8 |
Pennsylvania Alcohol-Related Crashes
In 2010, about 14 percent of all holiday accidents involved alcohol. More than half (51 percent) of deaths that occurred during holiday weekends were related to alcohol use.
| Holiday | Crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 172 | 3 |
| Post-New Year's | 149 | 6 |
| Pre-Memorial Day | 156 | 2 |
| Memorial Day | 158 | 11 |
| Post-Memorial Day | 125 | 1 |
| Pre-Independence Day | 128 | 11 |
| Independence Day | 161 | 9 |
| Post-Independence Day | 127 | 9 |
| Pre-Labor Day | 137 | 7 |
| Labor Day | 170 | 5 |
| Post-Labor Day | 153 | 11 |
| Pre-Thanksgiving | 180 | 12 |
| Thanksgiving | 189 | 13 |
| Post-Thanksgiving | 166 | 5 |
| Pre-Christmas | 195 | 10 |
| Christmas | 134 | 3 |
Pennsylvania Car Accidents - Labor Day 2011
- Nine people died in Pennsylvania during the Labor Day weekend in 2011.
- Five accidents were fatal.
- There were 783 crashes, of which 80 were related to alcohol use.
- More than 350 (351) were injured.
- Police arrested 483 people for drunk driving.
- There were more crashes and injuries than in 2010, and the same number of people died.
2010 Pennsylvania Accident Statistics - Thanksgiving and Christmas
- In 2010, 55 people died in car accidents in Pennsylvania during the weekends before and after Thanksgiving. This time period had the highest rate of crashes throughout the year.
- Of the crashes that occurred during the weekends before and after Thanksgiving, 535 accidents involved alcohol.
- The number of alcohol-related crashes surrounding Thanksgiving accounted for 22 percent of the total number of crashes involving alcohol in 2010.
- There were 2,035 crashes and 19 deaths in 2010 during the Christmas and New Year's travel periods.
Looking for more statistics? View our accident statistics page.
Sources: "Traffic Safety Facts." U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2009.
"Pennsylvania Crash Facts & Statistics." Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 2010.
"PennDOT, Police Start "Operation Safe Holiday." The Pitt News. November 21, 2011.
"Pennsylvania Crash Facts & Statistics." Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 2010.
"PennDOT, Police Start "Operation Safe Holiday." The Pitt News. November 21, 2011.