A comprehensive study from CarInsurance.com shows that American roads become far more dangerous during the New Year’s holiday. Their data illustrates patterns that show when and where the danger peaks. The team used 2014-2023 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and adjusted it by population to calculate per capita fatal accident rates.
Some might find the most dangerous states surprising. The top three are South Carolina (1.39 deaths per 100,000 people), Mississippi (1.35 deaths per 100,000), and Louisiana (1.33 deaths per 100,000). Florida comes in fourth, though it includes some of the nation’s deadliest counties for crashes.
Moving on to counties, the team found that the most dangerous are Sarasota County, Florida (2.3 fatalities per 100,000 people), Manatee County, Florida (2 per 100,000 people), and Davidson County, Tennessee (1.96 per 100,000 people). These areas report high rates of fatal accidents caused by alcohol, which is a major contributor on holidays like New Year’s.
The time of day also drastically affects the number of fatal accidents. The highest number of fatal accidents took place between 1 AM and 3 AM on New Year’s Day. There were a total of 1,474 New Year’s Day driving accident fatalities in the nine years studied. In 2022, 37% of holiday traffic deaths involved drunk drivers, but misuse of seat belts played a big role too.
The team’s findings are alarming and remind us of the importance of sober driving and seat belts. Avoiding the hours of 1 AM to 3 AM on January 1st is a major precaution that could save your life. Be wary in bad weather and stay extra alert if you do choose to drive. These actions could make the difference between a joyous and tragic holiday.
