Increased Car Accidents During the Holidays

We are often asked whether there are more truck and car accidents over the holidays. It seems like holidays would be more dangerous than a regular day on the calendar, but is that really true? The statistics indicate that accidents tend to increase over the holidays, from Thanksgiving to Christmas and then over to New Year’s Eve. What makes these “peak periods” different from normal times is there are likely to be many alcohol-related crashes during these peak periods. During this month-long period, car and truck accidents increase, as compared to any other period of time during the year. There are many reasons for this.

Holiday Season Car and Truck Accident Statistics

As of September of 2022, the Tennessee Highway Patrol announced that, so far this year, there have been 4,500 crashes across Tennessee, and out of those 4,500 crashes, 927 people were killed. In 2021, data collected by the Tennessee Highway Patrol showed 1,280 fatal crashes across the state. In 2020, that number was much lower at 1,160 fatal crashes. According to the National Safety Council, the three days surrounding Christmas typically see an average of 343 traffic fatalities each year, while an average of 373 people are killed over the three-day New Year holiday.

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, car and truck accidents increase overall. There are many reasons for this, including increased traffic due to holiday travel, alcohol related crashes, and winter weather related crashes. But of the three holidays at the end of the year (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years) it’s Christmas that causes the most crashes. Christmas is a more likely time for fatal crashes than Thanksgiving. More than 6 out of 10 fatal crashes during the Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday happened on or around Christmas in the past decade. During the past decade, there were approximately 12,610 automobile accidents that involved fatalities around these two holidays. There were 4,542 crash-related fatalities during Thanksgiving and approximately 8,068 on or around Christmas day. This calculates to 64% of the crashes happening on or around Christmas day.

As far as New Year’s celebrations go, this is also a higher than normal crash fatality day every year. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 384 people may die on U.S. roads this New Year’s Day holiday period for the upcoming 2021 end of year celebrations. In 2021, New Year’s Day falls on a Friday, so the holiday period is 3.25 days and extends from 6 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, January 3, 2021.

Causes for the Increase in Car Crashes Over the Holidays

There are a number of reasons why the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Years are associated with increased traffic crashes and accident fatalities. Some of these reasons are:

● Drivers who are normally off work during the week celebrate by drinking and driving. As people celebrate the holidays and some drink alcohol, there is an increase in drunk driving that can lead to accidents. There are just more parties and celebrations during this time of the year.

● There tend to be more people on the roads, as people travel to see family and friends. Overall, there are more cars on the road during the holidays. Increased traffic leads to increased risks of collisions. More individuals are out shopping and running errands related to the Christmas holidays over Thanksgiving and Christmas. The likelihood of being in a vehicle more frequently and for longer periods of time is also greater over the holidays, as people visit family and friends.

● Bad weather conditions can make driving treacherous. For a large portion of our nation’s population, there are usually cold, icy, snowy, and winter weather conditions. This is especially so in Tennessee. Roads and highways are often slippery and slick during this period of time. Combine the dangerous roads with increased traffic, and you have a recipe for more car and truck accidents, more serious injuries, and more fatalities.

● Drowsy driving. The demands of the holiday season, such as errands, shopping, decorating, and hosting parties, might be tiring. This can result in a lack of sleep and fatigue. According to the National Safety Council, you’re three times more likely to be in a vehicle accident if you’re tired. When you drive while drowsy, your capacity to detect hazards and respond quickly is impaired.

The law office of Robert Bates & Associates represents seriously injured people in and around the Tri Cities region of Tennessee. We have been successfully representing car and truck crash victims for over a decade. Contact us for a free consultation.

Robert BatesRobert is a Kingsport trial lawyer who handles car, truck and motorcycle wreck cases across the Tri-Cities. Every client gets his cell number.