Where in the United States is it the most dangerous to drive during New Year's?

To help holiday travelers prioritize safety and peace of mind, the team at CarInsurance.com has analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reveal the most dangerous times and places to drive on New Year’s Eve.

According to AAA, an estimated 119.3 million people traveled at least 50 miles between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1 in 2024, a record high. This high volume of traffic, combined with factors like alcohol consumption and fatigue, makes this period one of the most dangerous times to drive.

Unfortunately, New Year’s Eve car accidents are a tragic reality every holiday season. The National Safety Council estimates that 179 people may die on U.S. roads during the 2025 New Year’s holiday period, including Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, based on car accident statistics from previous years.

Their findings are below.

Infographic showing the most dangerous places for driving during New Years in the United States

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What are the most dangerous states for driving on New Year’s Eve?

By examining car accident fatalities on New Year’s Eve across different states, we can pinpoint where extra caution is needed. Our analysis of NHTSA data reveals that the most dangerous states for driving on New Year’s Eve, based on fatalities per 100,000 people, are South Carolina (1.39 per 100,000, with 71 deaths), Mississippi (1.35 per 100,000, with 40 deaths) and Louisiana (1.33 per 100,000, with 62 deaths).

Florida ranks No. 4 for New Year’s Eve deaths, with 270 fatalities, which is notably higher than the states ranked above it. This is important to highlight because many of the most dangerous counties for New Year’s Eve driving are in Florida.

This leads to our next question.

What are the most dangerous counties for driving on New Year’s Eve?

Analyzing traffic fatalities by county reveals the areas posing the greatest danger to drivers on New Year’s Eve.

The most dangerous U.S. counties for driving during this holiday are Sarasota County, Florida (2.3 fatalities per 100,000 people, totaling 10 deaths), Manatee County, Florida (2 fatalities per 100,000, totaling eight deaths) and Davidson County, Tennessee (1.96 per 100,000, totaling 14 deaths).

Both Sarasota and Manatee counties are notorious for DUI-related fatalities, a topic we will explore further in relation to New Year’s Eve. In 2019, Sarasota was identified as the deadliest large city in the country for DUI deaths.

What is the most dangerous time to drive on New Year’s Eve?

According to our analysis, the most dangerous time to drive on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) is between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. During this time period, 38 fatalities were reported on Dec. 31 from 2014 to 2023.

However, New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) presents even greater risks, with the most dangerous driving period again occurring from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. Jan. 1, during which 137 traffic fatalities were recorded from 2014 to 2023. The hour preceding it, 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., is also perilous, accounting for 131 deaths over the decade.

In total, there were 1,047 fatalities on New Year’s Eve and 1,474 on New Year’s Day from 2014 to 2023. Alcohol impairment is a major factor in these New Year’s driving deaths.

During the 2022 New Year’s holiday period, 37% of traffic deaths involved an alcohol-impaired driver. This percentage has fluctuated over the years, ranging from approximately 35% to 60% since the 1980s, with a notable spike in 2020 to 52%. Knowing the most dangerous times to travel during the New Year’s holiday can help you and your family stay safe.

Additionally, the National Safety Council’s studies show that seat belts, when used correctly, are 45% effective in preventing front-passenger fatalities in accidents. Of the 179 estimated deaths, 71 could be prevented if seat belts had been worn.

Driving safety tips for the New Year’s holiday period

In addition to wearing your seat belt, here are some other important traffic safety tips to ensure that your New Year’s driving experience is safe:

Do not drive under the influence. It’s not worth the risk. Arrange for a designated driver, use a rideshare service, or consider public transportation. Many cities offer free transportation during the New Year’s holiday.
Drive distraction-free. Texting or checking messages while driving forces you to take your eyes off the road for about five seconds. At 55 mph, this is the equivalent of driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Avoid peak travel times. Our research indicates that the most dangerous time to travel during New Year’s is between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. If possible, try to avoid driving during these hours.
Leave plenty of space. You cannot predict how other vehicles will behave, so it’s best to maintain a safe distance. Aim to maintain at least three seconds of distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you under ideal conditions (count the time it takes you to pass a stationary object after the vehicle in front of you does). Increase this to four seconds when following large vehicles or in heavy traffic and to six seconds in inclement weather or low visibility.

Here are a few more resources to browse in preparation for holiday travel:

Not every accident results in death or serious injury, but it is essential to show proper respect for the road and everyone you share it with at all times. This not only helps keep you and others safe but can also save you money.

Your driving history is one of the most significant factors in determining your car insurance rates. For example, drivers who have had a property damage accident pay around 56% more, while those with a bodily injury accident can see an increase of around 63% compared to drivers without such records. Additionally, a DUI can raise car insurance rates by 40% to 90%.

Holiday season car theft

During the holiday season, an often overlooked but still real danger that can ruin the holidays is car theft. In fact, New Year’s Day is the day with the highest rates of car theft. After gift exchanges, vehicles often contain new, valuable items such as electronics and jewelry, making them attractive targets for thieves.

The holiday season also presents ample opportunities for theft. Parking lots become prime hunting grounds due to the sheer volume of vehicles and the potential for valuable merchandise inside. Shoppers often work up an appetite and may leave their cars unattended for hours while enjoying a meal. Additionally, the shorter days mean longer periods of darkness, making it easier for criminals to go unnoticed.

Here are a few quick tips to help prevent car theft so that you can enjoy a festive and stress-free season:

Don’t leave valuables exposed: Store shopping bags and gifts out of sight, preferably in the trunk.
Park wisely: Choose well-lit, open areas that receive a lot of foot traffic, if possible.
Lock up: Double-check that all doors and windows are securely locked.
Use anti-theft devices: Consider adding extra security measures like steering wheel locks, alarms and tracking systems.

Stay alert while loading and unloading shopping bags into your vehicle. Unfortunately, there will always be scrooges who take advantage of the holiday hustle and bustle, so being mindful of your surroundings is key.

Where in the U.S. is the most dangerous place to drive during the New Year’s Holiday?

Methodology

The most dangerous states and counties to drive in on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day were determined by analyzing data from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

We weighed the number of fatalities from auto accidents that occurred on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 over 10 years (2014–2023) against the population of the counties and states to determine the per capita rate.

The most dangerous states for driving on New Year’s

S.No.	State	Auto accident fatalities on New Year’s between 2014–2023	Fatalities per 100k
1	South Carolina	71	1.39
2	Mississippi	40	1.35
3	Louisiana	62	1.33
4	Florida	270	1.25
5	Alabama	61	1.21
6	Wyoming	6	1.04
7	Montana	11	1.01
8	Arkansas	30	1.00
9	Texas	280	0.96
10	Tennessee	66	0.96
11	Alaska	7	0.95
12	Oklahoma	37	0.93
13	South Dakota	8	0.90
14	North Dakota	7	0.90
15	New Mexico	19	0.90
16	North Carolina	89	0.85
17	Kentucky	38	0.84
18	Georgia	90	0.84
19	Hawaii	12	0.82
20	Rhode Island	9	0.82
21	Wisconsin	47	0.80
22	Arizona	56	0.78
23	West Virginia	13	0.72
24	Missouri	44	0.71
25	Kansas	21	0.71
26	Oregon	30	0.71
27	Indiana	48	0.71
28	California	248	0.63
29	Nevada	19	0.61
30	Connecticut	22	0.61
31	Virginia	52	0.60
32	Washington	46	0.60
33	Michigan	55	0.55
34	Delaware	5	0.51
35	Illinois	62	0.48
36	Utah	15	0.46
37	Maryland	28	0.45
38	Massachusetts	29	0.41
39	Colorado	23	0.40
40	Ohio	47	0.40
41	Pennsylvania	51	0.39
42	Minnesota	21	0.37
43	Maine	5	0.37
44	New York	72	0.36
45	Iowa	11	0.34
46	Idaho	6	0.33
47	New Jersey	28	0.30
48	New Hampshire	4	0.29
49	Nebraska	5	0.25
50	Vermont	0	0.00

The most dangerous counties for driving on New Year’s

S.No.	County	Auto accident fatalities on New Year’s between 2014–2023	Fatalities per 100k
1	Sarasota County, FL	10	2.30
2	Manatee County, FL	8	2.00
3	Davidson County, TN	14	1.96
4	Collier County, FL	7	1.86
5	Fresno County, CA	18	1.78
6	Montgomery County, OH	9	1.68
7	Volusia County, FL	9	1.63
8	Shelby County, TN	15	1.61
9	DeKalb County, GA	12	1.57
10	Solano County, CA	7	1.54
11	East Baton Rouge County, LA	7	1.53
12	Lee County, FL	11	1.45
13	Horry County, SC	5	1.42
14	Duval County, FL	14	1.41
15	Brevard County, FL	8	1.32
16	Lake County, FL	5	1.30
17	Guilford County, NC	7	1.29
18	Hampden County, MA	6	1.29
19	Lubbock County, TX	4	1.29
20	Osceola County, FL	5	1.29
21	San Joaquin County, CA	10	1.28
22	Palm Beach County, FL	19	1.27
23	Orange County, FL	18	1.26
24	Polk County, FL	9	1.24
25	Kern County, CA	11	1.21
26	Rockland County, NY	4	1.18
27	Miami Dade County, FL	31	1.15
28	San Bernardino County, CA	25	1.15
29	Marion County, IN	11	1.13
30	Lane County, OR	4	1.04
31	El Paso County, TX	9	1.04
32	Jefferson County, AL	7	1.04
33	Pulaski County, AR	4	1.00
34	Orange County, NY	4	1.00
35	Broward County, FL	19	0.98
36	Harris County, TX	46	0.97
37	Mobile County, AL	4	0.96
38	Milwaukee County, WI	9	0.96
39	Dallas County, TX	25	0.96
40	Greenville County, SC	5	0.95
41	Wayne County, MI	17	0.95
42	Pinellas County, FL	9	0.94
43	Escambia County, FL	3	0.93
44	Jefferson County, LA	4	0.91
45	Multnomah County, OR	7	0.86
46	Seminole County, FL	4	0.85
47	Nueces County, TX	3	0.85
48	Bexar County, TX	17	0.85
49	Fulton County, GA	9	0.84
50	Jackson County, MI	6	0.84

Only the 200 largest U.S. counties were included in the analysis.

The most dangerous times to drive on New Year’s

Dec. 31 – a.m.

Hour	Total fatalities (2014–2023)
12 a.m. – 12:59 a.m.	30
1 a.m. – 1:59 a.m.	32
2 a.m. – 2:59 a.m.	38
3 a.m. – 3:59 a.m.	18
4 a.m. – 4:59 a.m.	24
5 a.m. – 5:59 a.m.	21
6 a.m. – 6:59 a.m.	35
7 a.m. – 7:59 a.m.	33
8 a.m. – 8:59 a.m.	23
9 a.m. – 9:59 a.m.	25
10 a.m. – 10:59 a.m.	24
11 a.m. – 11:59 a.m.	25

Dec. 31 – p.m.

Hour	Total fatalities (2014–2023)
12 p.m. – 12:59 p.m.	40
1 p.m. – 1:59 p.m.	45
2 p.m. – 2:59 p.m.	36
3 p.m. – 3:59 p.m.	38
4 p.m. – 4:59 p.m.	47
5 p.m. – 5:59 p.m.	70
6 p.m. – 6:59 p.m.	88
7 p.m. – 7:59 p.m.	71
8 p.m. – 8:59 p.m.	77
9 p.m. – 9:59 p.m.	58
10 p.m. – 10:59 p.m.	69
11 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.	80

Jan. 1 – a.m.

Hour	Total fatalities (2014–2023)
12 a.m. – 12:59 a.m.	88
1 a.m. – 1:59 a.m.	131
2 a.m. – 2:59 a.m.	137
3 a.m. – 3:59 a.m.	88
4 a.m. – 4:59 a.m.	80
5 a.m. – 5:59 a.m.	55
6 a.m. – 6:59 a.m.	49
7 a.m. – 7:59 a.m.	36
8 a.m. – 8:59 a.m.	22
9 a.m. – 9:59 a.m.	24
10 a.m. – 10:59 a.m.	32
11 a.m. – 11:59 a.m.	13

Jan. 1 – p.m.

Hour	Total fatalities (2014–2023)
12 p.m. – 12:59 p.m.	33
1 p.m. – 1:59 p.m.	41
2 p.m. – 2:59 p.m.	38
3 p.m. – 3:59 p.m.	51
4 p.m. – 4:59 p.m.	36
5 p.m. – 5:59 p.m.	32
6 p.m. – 6:59 p.m.	69
7 p.m. – 7:59 p.m.	47
8 p.m. – 8:59 p.m.	56
9 p.m. – 9:59 p.m.	37
10 p.m. – 10:59 p.m.	37
11 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.	38

Sources

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Laura Longero Editor-in-Chief

Laura Longero is the editor-in-chief of CarInsurance.com and a Nevada-based insurance expert. With more than 15 years of experience simplifying complex financial and insurance topics, she provides clear, trustworthy guidance to help drivers make confident coverage decisions. She serves as a media spokesperson for CarInsurance.com and has been featured in Consumer Affairs, MotorTrend and Business Insider, and completed the pre-licensing course in Personal Lines Property & Casualty Insurance.

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Brent Buell Data Journalist

Before joining QuinStreet, Brent worked for nearly four years at NYCM Insurance (a personal and commercial insurance carrier based in New York) between his roles as a product analyst and a commercial lines underwriter. Before joining NYCM, Brent owned and operated a captive insurance agency. He holds a property & casualty broker’s license and is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).