Study: Thanksgiving Is The Deadliest Holiday On U.S. Roads
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all. Unfortunately, it’s also quite dangerous. A troubling study reveals that Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday to be on the roads in the United States.
According to drivers education website Zutobi, there were 2,448 deaths from 2017 to 2021 that occurred during the Thanksgiving holiday. In 2021 alone, 531 people were killed in crashes during Thanksgiving weekends. The number of driver and passenger fatalities increased by 24% compared to the previous two years.
Why exactly is Thanksgiving the deadliest holiday on the roads. The leading cause is driving under the influence (36%), while 161 lives were claimed by speeding (30%) in 2021. Tragically, 79 fatalities involved young drivers aged 15 to 20.
For all five of the deadliest U.S. holidays, DUI-related deaths outnumbered the cases that resulted from excessive speed. If you’re going to be imbibing with your turkey feast, please don’t drive. Zutobi also recommends taking the following steps before traveling by car for the Thanksgiving holiday:
- Prepare your vehicle before traveling by checking tire pressure, brakes, and fluid levels.
- Minimize distractions by avoiding activities such as texting or eating while driving.
- Get adequate rest before long drives to combat driver fatigue and ensure alertness behind the wheel.
As we get older, holidays become the few times of the year when we get to see family and other loved ones. These are precious moments. None of us should let a bad decision behind the wheel take those away for anyone else. Or ourselves. You can see the full report HERE.
Top 5 Deadliest Holidays On U.S. Roads, 2017-2021 (Zutobi)
- Thanksgiving – 2,448 deaths
- Labor Day – 2,348 deaths
- Fourth of July – 2,344 deaths
- Memorial Day – 2,192 deaths
- Christmas – 1,669 deaths
