Holiday travel has a reputation for making American roads more dangerous. The data tell a more complicated story. Some holiday periods record elevated traffic deaths, particularly during the summer, while Thanksgiving and Christmas can have average fatality levels similar to or lower than comparable nonholiday periods.
kAm%92E 5:DE:?4E:@? >2EE6CD 3642FD6 2 =2C86 ?F>36C @7 4C2D96D 5FC:?8 2 9@=:52J 5@6D ?@E 2FE@>2E:42==J >62? E96 C:D< @7 2 4C2D9 92D :?4C62D65] |@C6 A6@A=6 >2J 36 EC2G6=:?8[ 9@=:52J A6C:@5D 5:776C :? =6?8E9[ 2?5 ?2E:@?2= 52E2 5@ ?@E AC@G:56 2 C6=:23=6 52J\3J\52J >62DFC6 @7 G69:4=6 >:=6D EC2G6=65 7@C 6G6CJ 9@=:52J]k^Am
kAm%96 =2E6DEk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?9ED2]8@G^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^EC277:4\562E9D\a_ad\62C=J\6DE:>2E6D\a_ac\2??F2=Qm 7:?2=:K65 7656C2= 52E2k^2m D9@H E92E be[ec_ A6@A=6 5:65 :? &]$] >@E@C G69:4=6 4C2D96D :? a_ad[ 5@H? 7C@> bh[adc :? a_ac] %96 EC277:4 72E2=:EJ C2E6 2=D@ 564=:?65[ 7C@> `]`h 562E9D A6C `__ >:==:@? G69:4=6 >:=6D EC2G6=65 :? a_ac E@ 2? 6DE:>2E65 `]`_ :? a_ad[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= w:89H2J %C277:4 $276EJ p5>:?:DEC2E:@?] %96 a_ad 7:8FC6D 2C6 AC6=:>:?2CJ] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>@<2C2>:?;FCJ=2HJ6CD]4@>^Qm|@<2C2> x?;FCJ {2HJ6CDk^2m[ 2 w@FDE@?\32D65 A6CD@?2= :?;FCJ =2H 7:C>[ 6I2>:?6D H92E E96 52E2 C6G62= 23@FE 9@=:52J EC277:4 72E2=:E:6D 2?5 @776CD E:AD 7@C DE2J:?8 D276 @? E96 C@25 5FC:?8 3FDJ EC2G6= A6C:@5D]k^Am
k9bm$F>>6C w@=:52JD %6?5 E@ q6 s625=:6Ck^9bm
kAm%96 4=62C6DE 9@=:52J A2EE6C? 2AA62CD 5FC:?8 E96 DF>>6C] %96 }2E:@?2= $276EJ r@F?4:= W}$rX[ FD:?8 7656C2= u2E2=:EJ p?2=JD:D #6A@CE:?8 $JDE6> 52E2[ EC24<D 6249 9@=:52J A6C:@5 D6A2C2E6=J[ 32D65 @? 2G6C286 562E9D A6C 52J[ 3642FD6 E96 A6C:@5D 2C6 ?@E 2== E96 D2>6 =6?8E9]k^Am
kAm|6>@C:2= s2J[ x?56A6?56?46 s2J 2?5 {23@C s2J 86?6C2==J 92G6 E96 9:896DE 2G6C286 52:=Jk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?;FCJ724ED]?D4]@C8^>@E@C\G69:4=6^9@=:52JD^=23@C\52J^52E2\56E2:=D^Qm EC277:4 72E2=:EJ =6G6=Dk^2m 2>@?8 >2;@C 9@=:52JD] %92?<D8:G:?8[ r9C:DE>2D 2?5 }6H *62C’D s2J E6?5 E@ 92G6 =@H6C =6G6=D] x? a_ab[ {23@C s2J 925 E96 9:896DE 2G6C286 ?F>36C @7 562E9D A6C 52J 2>@?8 E96 >2;@C 9@=:52JD 2?2=JK65]k^Am
kAmx?56A6?56?46 s2J 2=D@ DE2?5D @FE H96? 4@>A2C65 H:E9 E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 H66<6?5D] p4C@DD E96 D:I >@DE C646?E 4@>A2C23=6 b]ad\52J yF=J u@FCE9 A6C:@5D[ EC277:4 562E9Dk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?;FCJ724ED]?D4]@C8^>@E@C\G69:4=6^9@=:52JD^:?56A6?56?46\52J^52E2\56E2:=D^Qm 2G6C2865 cbdk^2m[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 bhh 5FC:?8 D:>:=2C A6C:@5D 367@C6 2?5 27E6C E96 9@=:52J] %92E :D 2 5:776C6?46 @7 23@FE hT]k^Am
k9bm%92?<D8:G:?8 s@6D }@E $9@H E96 $2>6 $A:<6k^9bm
kAm%92?<D8:G:?8 EC277:4 42? 766= F?FDF2==J :?E6?D6[ 3FE 72E2=:EJ 52E2 5@ ?@E D9@H 2 4@?D:DE6?E :?4C62D6] %96 }$r 4@>A2C65 %92?<D8:G:?8 H66<6?5D H:E9 A6C:@5D @7 E96 D2>6 =6?8E9 :>>65:2E6=J 367@C6 2?5 27E6C E96 9@=:52J]k^Am
kAmp4C@DD E96 D:I\J62C A6C:@5 2?2=JK65[ %92?<D8:G:?8 2G6C2865k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?;FCJ724ED]?D4]@C8^>@E@C\G69:4=6^9@=:52JD^E92?<D8:G:?8\52J^52E2\56E2:=D^Qm cff EC277:4 562E9D[k^2m 4@>A2C65 H:E9 chb 5FC:?8 E96 4@>A2C:D@? A6C:@5D[ >2<:?8 E96 %92?<D8:G:?8 7:8FC6 23@FE bT =@H6C]k^Am
kAm%96C6 :D 2? :>A@CE2?E =:>:E2E:@?] %96 }$r ?@E6D E92E ?@ ?2E:@?2= DJDE6> >62DFC6D G69:4=6 >:=6D EC2G6=65 7@C :?5:G:5F2= 52JD] %92?<D8:G:?8 4@F=5 :?G@=G6 >@C6 5C:G:?8 E92? DFCC@F?5:?8 H66<6?5D[ H9:49 H@F=5 27764EÂ E96 A6C\>:=6 C:D< 6G6? H96? E@E2= 562E9D 2C6 D:>:=2C]k^Am
k9bmr9C:DE>2D xD p=D@ {@H6C %92? xED #6AFE2E:@? $F886DEDk^9bm
kAmr9C:DE>2D AC@5F46D 2 D:>:=2C C6DF=E] ~G6C E96 D:I 4@>A2C23=6 c]ad\52J r9C:DE>2D A6C:@5D 2?2=JK65 3J E96 }$r[ EC277:4 562E9Dk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?;FCJ724ED]?D4]@C8^>@E@C\G69:4=6^9@=:52JD^49C:DE>2D\52J^52E2\56E2:=D^Qm 2G6C2865 cd_k^2m[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 cde 5FC:?8 4@>A2C23=6 A6C:@5D 367@C6 r9C:DE>2D]k^Am
kAm%96 `]bT 5:776C6?46 H2D ?@E DE2E:DE:42==J D:8?:7:42?E] %96 7:?5:?8 5@6D ?@E >62? r9C:DE>2D EC2G6= :D C:D<\7C66] xE D9@HD E92E 2G2:=23=6 72E2=:EJ 52E2 5@ ?@E DFAA@CE 2 D:>A=6 4=2:> E92E EC277:4 562E9D 2FE@>2E:42==J DFC86 3642FD6 r9C:DE>2D 92D 2CC:G65]k^Am
k9bmp=4@9@= r92?86D E96 w@=:52J #:D<k^9bm
kAm~?6 724E@C 364@>6D >@C6 AC@>:?6?E 5FC:?8 D6G6C2= 9@=:52J A6C:@5Di 2=4@9@=\:>A2:C65 5C:G:?8] %96 }2E:@?2= w:89H2J %C277:4 $276EJ p5>:?:DEC2E:@? W}w%$pX C6A@CE65 E92Ek2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?9ED2]8@G^C:D<J\5C:G:?8^5CF?<\5C:G:?8Qm ``[h_c A6@A=6k^2m 5:65 :? 4C2D96D :?G@=G:?8 5CF?< 5C:G6CD :? a_ac[ 244@F?E:?8 7@C 23@FE b_T @7 2== &]$] EC277:4 72E2=:E:6D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 u@FCE9 @7 yF=J A6C:@5D 7C@> a_a_ E9C@F89 a_ac[k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?9ED2]8@G^46=63C2E6\2>6C:42\D276=J\;F=J\cE9Qm a[f`h A6@A=6k^2m H6C6 <:==65 :? EC277:4 4C2D96D] p>@?8 5C:G6CD H9@ 5:65[ bgT H6C6 5CF?<[ 244@C5:?8 E@ }w%$p]k^Am
kAm%96 H:?E6C 9@=:52JD 2C6 ?@E 6I6>AE] }w%$p C64@C565 `[_bg 562E9D :? 5CF?<\5C:G:?8 4C2D96D 5FC:?8k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?9ED2]8@G^5C:G6\D@36C\5646>36C\2?5\6G6CJ\>@?E9Qm s646>36C a_abk^2m 2?5 >@C6 E92? c[hb` DF49 562E9D 5FC:?8 E96 7:G6 s646>36CD 7C@> a_`h E9C@F89 a_ab]k^Am
k9bm%92?<D8:G:?8 tG6 r2CC:6D xED ~H? (2C?:?8k^9bm
kAm%96 ?:89E 367@C6 %92?<D8:G:?8 56D6CG6D D6A2C2E6 2EE6?E:@?] x? a_ab[k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?9ED2]8@G^E92?<D8:G:?8\EC2G6=\D276EJ\E:ADQm ha 5C:G6CDk^2m H6C6 :?G@=G65 :? 72E2= 4C2D96D @? %92?<D8:G:?8 tG6[ 2?5 bbT H6C6 5CF?<]k^Am
kAmp4C@DD E96 %92?<D8:G:?8 9@=:52J A6C:@5D 7C@> a_`h E9C@F89 a_ab[ geg A6@A=6 H6C6 <:==65 :? 5CF?<\5C:G:?8 4C2D96D] }w%$p 567:?6D E96 %92?<D8:G:?8 A6C:@5 2D 368:??:?8 (65?6D52J 6G6?:?8 2?5 4@?E:?F:?8 E9C@F89 $F?52J ?:89E]k^Am
kAm%92E A2EE6C? D9@HD H9J 9@=:52J D276EJ 42??@E 36 >62DFC65 D:>A=J 3J E@E2= 4C2D9 ?F>36CD] r6CE2:? 9@FCD 2?5 3692G:@CD >2J 42CCJ 8C62E6C C:D<D 6G6? H96? 2? 6?E:C6 9@=:52J H66<6?5 5@6D ?@E 92G6 2 9:896C 72E2=:EJ 4@F?E E92? 2 EJA:42= H66<6?5]k^Am
k9bm(92E E96 w@=:52J s2E2 p4EF2==J $9@Hk^9bm
kAm%96 6G:56?46 5@6D ?@E DFAA@CE EC62E:?8 6G6CJ >2;@C 9@=:52J 2D 6BF2==J 52?86C@FD] $F>>6C 9@=:52JD[ A2CE:4F=2C=J {23@C s2J[ |6>@C:2= s2J 2?5 x?56A6?56?46 s2J[ E6?5 E@ C64@C5 9:896C 2G6C286 52:=J EC277:4 72E2=:EJ =6G6=D] %92?<D8:G:?8 2?5 r9C:DE>2D @7E6? 4@>A2C6 >@C6 72G@C23=J H:E9 D:>:=2C ?@?9@=:52J A6C:@5D]k^Am
kAmx>A2:C65 5C:G:?8 :D E96 >@C6 4@?D:DE6?E H2C?:?8 D:8?] p=4@9@= 244@F?ED 7@C 2 DF3DE2?E:2= D92C6 @7 EC277:4 562E9D ?2E:@?H:56 2?5 :D 962G:=J C6AC6D6?E65 :? 72E2= 4C2D96D 5FC:?8 D6G6C2= 9@=:52J A6C:@5D]k^Am
kAmr2=6?52C 52E6D 2=@?6 5@ ?@E 56E6C>:?6 C@25H2J C:D<] w@H >2?J A6@A=6 5C:G6[ H96? E96J EC2G6=[ 2?5 H96E96C 5C:G6CD 2C6 :>A2:C65 2== :?7=F6?46 H92E 92AA6?D @? E96 C@25]k^Am
k9bm}@ $:>A=6 p?DH6Ck^9bm
kAm%96 2?DH6C E@ H96E96C 42C 244:56?ED DA:<6 5FC:?8 E96 9@=:52JD :D ?@E 2 D:>A=6 J6D] $@>6 9@=:52JD D9@H 6=6G2E65 72E2=:EJ =6G6=D[ @E96CD 5@ ?@E[ 2?5 E96 DEC@?86DE ?2E:@?2= 52E2D6ED >62DFC6 72E2= 4C2D96D 36EE6C E92? >:?@C 4@==:D:@?D] %96 4=62C6DE A2EE6C? :D E92E 46CE2:? 9@=:52J A6C:@5D 4@>3:?6 962GJ EC2G6= H:E9 3692G:@CD 2=C625J 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 5625=J 4C2D96D]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>@<2C2>:?;FCJ=2HJ6CD]4@>^3=@8D^5@\42C\244:56?ED\DA:<6\5FC:?8\E96\9@=:52JD\H92E\E96\52E2\D9@HD^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>@<2C2>:?;FCJ=2HJ6CD]4@>^Qmk6>m|@<2C2> x?;FCJ {2HJ6CDk^6>mk^2mk6>m 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am
