Fourth of July Drunk Driving Crash Statistics

As warm weather draws people outdoors for pool parties, barbecues, and boat rides, alcohol is often part of the mix. But no stretch of the summer sees more of these celebrations than the Fourth of July and the days surrounding it.

This year, the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday, but even when it lands on a weekday, festivities continue on. Given the higher-than-usual alcohol consumption observed during and around the holiday, Selvidge Injury Law Firm partnered with 1Point21 Interactive to better understand how road traffic safety trends change during this period. 

We compiled collision data from 2022 to 2024 across eight states, two from each U.S. region, to form a national sample of crashes for broader insights. Because Fourth of July celebrations may continue late into the night, we analyzed the 30‑hour period spanning midnight on July 4 to 6 a.m. on July 5.

To account for the shifting calendar each year, with the holiday falling on a Monday in 2022, Tuesday in 2023, and Thursday in 2024, a baseline averaging all other comparable weekdays was used to measure differences in alcohol-related crashes.

Read on to learn more.

Hourly Patterns

What stands out about Fourth of July celebrations in terms of road traffic safety is that the total number of crashes stays relatively similar to an average weekday. However, a higher share of those crashes involve alcohol.

Alcohol-related crashes rise by 106%, more than doubling compared with similar weekday periods.

Despite festivities beginning at all hours of the day, the highest concentration of alcohol-related crashes occurs in the evening and nighttime hours. The largest increases were observed between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., with the biggest spike at 10 p.m., when crashes rose by 236%.

Regional Patterns

Fourth of July celebrations are especially significant in the Northeast, where the region has strong historical roots and iconic, well-attended events in New York City, Boston, and other New England cities.

The holiday’s social culture often includes drinking, which can increase risks on the road. Additionally, the Northeast region’s road infrastructure is shaped by limited space, which means many drivers share the same roads with few alternate routes and may face a greater risk of alcohol-related crashes.

The Northeast region saw the highest increase over the study period with a 134% rise. 

The South followed with a 129% increase. The Midwest observed a 126% increase, and the West saw a 96% increase in alcohol-related crashes from the beginning of July 4 through 6 a.m. on July 5. 

How to Celebrate Safely

Holiday celebrations are encouraged, but it’s important to keep a few safety precautions in mind:

• If you’re planning to go out, designate a sober driver or use a rideshare service.
• If you’re hosting a party where alcohol is served, prepare all necessary party goods so you don’t need last-minute trips for ice, food, or other supplies.
• Arrange for home delivery or ask a sober volunteer to handle any late-night errands. 
• If someone has been drinking, don’t let them get behind the wheel, and encourage guests to arrange a safe way home before the night gets late.
• Avoid unnecessary nighttime driving if possible, since that’s when the risk is highest.

Small steps like these can help keep the holiday fun and safer for everyone.

Methodology

We analyzed collision data from 2022 to 2024 across eight states, with two states from each U.S. region, to create a national sample. Data was sourced from each state’s official crash database.

The Fourth of July celebration period was defined as the 30-hour window from midnight on July 4 through 6 a.m. on July 5 each year. We compared this holiday window against the same weekday hours from the rest of the year. The results from these three yearly periods were then averaged to return the national-level statistics reported throughout this analysis, accounting for weekday variations.

Fair Use Statement

If you’d like to help us raise awareness about drinking and driving during holiday festivities, you are welcome to share the findings of our study. We just ask that any mention includes a link back to the study’s page so readers can access the full scope and methodology.