The Most Dangerous Summer Holidays for Driving

All-day festivities are a beloved part of summer holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day—and for many people, drinking alcoholic beverages is part of the good times. But too many of these people will end up getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after the fireworks are over, meaning that these holidays are also potentially dangerous times to be on the road. 

Where is the risk for a summer holiday DUI crash greatest, and which holidays are riskiest? We analyzed fatal crash data on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day from 2014-2023 that were caused by impaired driving or speeding to find the answers. 

Key Findings

• The Fourth of July is overall the most dangerous holiday for fatal DUI crashes, with a national average of 94 each year.
• Vermont is the most dangerous state for fatal DUI crashes on Memorial Day, Rhode Island is the most dangerous on the Fourth of July, and Montana is the most dangerous on Labor Day.
• Among the three holidays, the Fourth of July saw the biggest increase in fatal DUI crashes between 2014 and 2023—a rise of 6.3%.
• Missouri saw the biggest annual increase for Memorial Day, Arizona had the largest during Fourth of July, and Kansas had the biggest on Labor Day.
• Labor Day is the most dangerous summer holiday for drivers in fatal speeding crashes, averaging 133 per year nationally.

Most Dangerous Summer Holidays for Fatal DUI Crashes 

Overall, the Fourth of July has the highest average number of fatal DUI crashes of any summer holiday, with a national average of 94 per year, compared to 90 for Labor Day and 89 for Memorial Day.

However, the numbers vary significantly by state. Vermont had the highest average number of drivers involved in fatal DUI crashes per 1,000 residents, while Rhode Island was the most dangerous on the Fourth of July. 

Montana had the highest number of Labor Day crashes, and unfortunately, it also showed up in the top three for Memorial Day and the Fourth. Intoxicated driving is a consistent problem in Montana, which regularly ranks among the most dangerous states for drunk-driving fatalities.

The most dangerous individual holiday by state also varies. Memorial Day tops the list in 18 states, while the Fourth of July is the most dangerous in 20 others. Labor Day accounts for just 12, but whichever state you’re in and whichever holiday it is, there’s no safe time to be driving intoxicated (or riding with someone who is). 

Fatal DUI crashes are increasing most quickly around the Fourth of July.

Unfortunately, fatal DUI crashes on the Fourth of July have increased significantly faster than Labor Day and Memorial Day crashes between 2014 and 2023. Fourth of July crashes shot up by an average annual change rate of 6.3%, while Memorial Day and Labor Day saw increases of 1.6% and 1%, respectively.

Any increase in drunk driving is concerning. However, the big jump in Fourth of July crashes is a reminder of how important it is for Americans to plan for a safe ride home, especially during holidays meant for celebration.

Arizona led the rankings with an increase of over 90% in fatal DUI crashes on the Fourth of July, and Virginia and Florida also struggled with big increases. 

Missouri saw an even worse increase on Memorial Day with 95.11%, and Colorado wasn’t far behind with over 90%. One bright spot: South Dakota could be making some progress in bringing down its high DUI rates, with a 5.56% decrease in fatal crashes on Memorial Day.

Some of the biggest problems on Labor Day came from Kansas, where the numbers showed an 87.11% increase in fatal DUI crashes. Neighboring Colorado also fared poorly with an increase of almost 74%, while down south, Alabama recorded an increase of over 74% itself. 

Most Dangerous Summer Holidays For Fatal Speeding Crashes 

Drivers don’t have to be intoxicated to cause tragedy on the road. Every year, speeding-related crashes kill hundreds of people during Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. 

Labor Day was the most dangerous holiday for fatal speeding-related crashes, with Fourth of July second and Memorial Day third.

Even in a state like Vermont, known for its scenic drives where roads may feel quieter, the numbers show that it’s the most dangerous state for speeding crashes on both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. New Mexico was the most dangerous for Labor Day crashes and also appeared in the Memorial Day crash rankings. 

In fact, many states, such as Vermont, New Mexico, Wyoming, and South Carolina, appear multiple times in the top five for speeding-related crashes during the summer holidays. 

Plan ahead and drive carefully.

Ultimately, the only way to prevent unsafe driving is for drivers to hold themselves and other people accountable. If you’re planning on drinking, decide on a safe way to get home before you leave for that cookout—and even if you’re not, watch out for people who might not drive as cautiously as you.

Smart Start helps keep drunk drivers off the roads with Ignition Interlock Devices that prevent intoxicated people from starting their vehicles. However, in most cases, IIDs only prevent the next DUI after someone has already made the choice to drive under the influence. The best way by far is to prevent the first DUI from ever happening, and that means locking down safe transportation from your summer parties. 

Methodology

We looked at data from 2014 to 2023 from the NHTSA FIRST database. We specifically gathered data on the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes caused by driving under the influence and by speeding in each state.