The most dangerous days to drive
More people die on US roads on July 4 than on any other date: 141 on the average July 4 from 2015 to 2024, against 107 on the average day. Saturday is the deadliest day of the week, and New Year's night the deadliest holiday.
Every date, weekday, month and holiday, counted from NHTSA's record of every fatal crash. Each chart has its own share link.
Road deaths on every date of the year
Each square is one date, shaded by the people who died on US roads on it, averaged over 2015 to 2024. Summer and autumn run darker than winter and spring; July 4, September 3, January 1 and October 30 stand out.
September 3 is high because in 5 of the ten years it fell on Labor Day weekend: 140 deaths on average in those years, 119 in the others. The holiday pages compare each holiday with the same weekdays around it, which this calendar doesn't. February 29 occurred in three of the ten years.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The ten deadliest dates to drive
July 4 leads by a wide margin: 32% more deaths than the average day. Most of the rest fall in late summer and October.
| Date | Deaths a day (average) | Deaths (total) | Against the average day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 4 | 140.7 | 1,407 | +32% |
| 2 | September 3 | 129.4 | 1,294 | +22% |
| 3 | January 1 | 129.3 | 1,293 | +21% |
| 4 | October 30 | 127.6 | 1,276 | +20% |
| 5 | July 3 | 126.7 | 1,267 | +19% |
| 6 | October 29 | 126.2 | 1,262 | +18% |
| 7 | September 18 | 125.7 | 1,257 | +18% |
| 8 | October 22 | 125.4 | 1,254 | +18% |
| 9 | September 16 | 125.2 | 1,252 | +18% |
| 10 | June 25 | 124.1 | 1,241 | +17% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The most dangerous day of the week to drive
Saturday has the most road deaths, 131 on the average Saturday, 42% more than Tuesday, the safest day. The three worst are Saturday, Sunday, Friday.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The most dangerous month to drive
September has the most road deaths a day on average, 118; January the fewest, 91.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The most dangerous holidays to drive
Each holiday against the same days of the week in the weeks around it, so the season and the weekday match. New Year's night stands far above the rest; Thanksgiving week and Christmas come out a little below normal, though Thanksgiving Day itself and Christmas Eve are worse than usual.
- New Year's Eve+54%
- Halloween+6%
- Holiday season+2%
- Christmas-2%
- Thanksgiving-3%
New Year's Eve: noon on December 31 to noon on January 1. Halloween: October 31. Holiday season: December 23 to January 1. Christmas: December 24 to 26. Thanksgiving: Wednesday to Sunday of Thanksgiving week. Each holiday's page has the states, the years and the method.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Children killed walking, date by date
1,960 pedestrians aged 14 and under died on US roads from 2015 to 2024. 19 of them died on October 31, Halloween, more than on any other date; no other date had more than 13, and the middle date had 5. Halloween fatal car accidents has the hours and the ages.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about the most dangerous days to drive
- What is the most dangerous day of the year to drive?
- July 4. From 2015 to 2024, 1,407 people died on US roads on July 4, 141 on the average July 4 against 107 on the average day. September 3 (129), January 1 (129), October 30 (128) follow. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the most dangerous day of the week to drive?
- Saturday, with 131 road deaths on the average Saturday from 2015 to 2024; Tuesday is the safest, with 92.
- Which holiday is the most dangerous to drive?
- New Year's night: counted from noon on December 31 to noon on January 1, it has +54% road deaths against the same hours of a normal night. Christmas Day has fewer deaths than a normal day.
- What is the most dangerous month to drive?
- September, with 118 road deaths a day on average from 2015 to 2024; January has the fewest, 91.