Thanksgiving is Deadliest Travel Day
Nov. 25, 2009 – Driving along U.S. roadways on the Thanksgiving Holiday was about five times deadlier than on the average day last year, making it the deadliest travel day in the United States, according to a recent federal report.
Some 502 people died while traveling on U.S. roadways during the 2008 Thanksgiving Holiday, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The 502 fatalities is nearly five times the daily average of 102 deaths on U.S. roadways in 2008, according to AAA.
A combination of increased roadway travel and alcohol consumption is the primary reason Thanksgiving ranked as the deadliest holiday last year.
“More vehicles create greater conflict potential. And unfortunately, during holiday times, celebratory actions, people drink and get out on the road, and that leads to a problem, too,” according to AAA spokesman Robert Sinclair. U.S. roadways see an about 50 percent increase in traffic on Thanksgiving compared to normal travel days, he added.
Although about five times above the normal daily average for roadway deaths, the 502 fatalities reported last year were less than the prior 26-year average of 556 highway fatalities on Thanksgiving Day. Sinclair attributed higher gas prices last year with lowering the number of people traveling last Thanksgiving and subsequent highway deaths. But with gas prices average $2.63 per gallon this year, he anticipates more people and more deaths this year.
Of people traveling during the Thanksgiving Holiday, about 91 percent will travel by car, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The average distance traveled will be 214 miles. The average distance driven during Christmas and New Year’s is 275 miles while the national average is 261 miles during other times of the year.
On average, holiday travel is at least four times deadlier than normal, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And alcohol plays a role in at least 41 percent of all holiday traffic fatalities.
New Year’s and Christmas have the lowest average highway fatalities among the six most-traveled holidays with an average of 401 and 414 deaths, respectively, each year since 1982. Labor Day has the second-deadliest travel date after Thanksgiving with an annual average of 544 highway fatalities. Some 487 people died in traffic accidents on Labor Day in 2008.
Independence Day 2008 saw 491 people die on U.S. roadways – down from its average of 542. Memorial Day had 425 fatalities – 83 fewer than its average of 508 deaths since 1982.
While the top four holidays for vehicular deaths posted lower-than-average fatalities last year, Christmas and New Year’s saw slight increases. Some 420 people died in traffic accidents on Christmas Day 2008, six more than the holiday’s average of 414. New Year’s Day had 423 fatalities – 22 more than its 401 average.