Holiday travel often comes with increased risks on the road, and new research reveals which states see the highest—and lowest—fatal crash rates during U.S. federal holidays.
According to a study by Phillips Law Firm, Massachusetts has been named the safest state for holiday driving, recording just 18 people involved in fatal crashes per million residents between 2019 and 2023. By contrast, Delaware tops the list as the most dangerous, with 93 people involved in fatal crashes per million residents.
Holiday Crash Risks Across the Nation
Nationally, the average number of people involved in fatal crashes on federal holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, stands at 51 per million residents.
- Independence Day emerged as the deadliest holiday overall, leading crash statistics in 19 states, including Texas (226 people involved), California (218), and Ohio (109).
- New Year’s Day was the most dangerous holiday in 12 states, with Florida recording the highest figure: 286 people involved in fatal crashes on January 1 alone.
In Massachusetts, Christmas Day proved the most dangerous, with 23 people involved in fatal crashes over the four-year study period.
The Safest States for Holiday Driving
The District of Columbia followed Massachusetts as the second safest place to drive during the holidays, with 21 people involved in fatal crashes per million residents. Maine and New York tied for third with 23, while Utah ranked fourth at 26.
Here are the ten safest states:
| Rank | State | People Involved in Fatal Crashes (Per Million Residents) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 18 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 21 |
| =3 | Maine | 23 |
| =3 | New York | 23 |
| 4 | Utah | 26 |
| =5 | Minnesota | 27 |
| =5 | New Hampshire | 27 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 28 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 31 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 32 |
| =9 | Alaska | 34 |
| =9 | Vermont | 34 |
| =9 | Washington | 34 |
| 10 | Maryland | 38 |
The Most Dangerous States
Delaware recorded the highest rate of fatal holiday crashes, with 93 people involved per million residents. Wyoming, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Alabama all followed closely with 88.
| Rank | State | People Involved in Fatal Crashes (Per Million Residents) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 93 |
| =2 | Wyoming | 88 |
| =2 | North Dakota | 88 |
| =2 | South Carolina | 88 |
| =2 | Alabama | 88 |
| 3 | Mississippi | 83 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 82 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 74 |
| =6 | New Mexico | 73 |
| =6 | Florida | 73 |
| 7 | Kansas | 72 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 69 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 67 |
| 10 | Georgia | 65 |
Expert Warning
A spokesperson for Phillips Law Firm emphasized why holiday travel is riskier:
“Holiday travel often leads to a sharp increase in road traffic as more people drive to visit family or attend events. Naturally, this increased traffic also elevates the risk of people being involved in a fatal accident—especially when combined with factors like alcohol consumption, driver fatigue, and unfamiliar routes.
Drivers should take extra precautions when traveling during holidays. It’s important to consult local traffic updates before taking to the road, and make sure that you leave yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.”
Methodology
This study analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on people involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes during U.S. federal holidays between 2019 and 2023. Crash figures were calculated per million residents to determine which states are the most and least dangerous during holiday travel.