What should be a season of celebration turns deadly year after year, as evidenced by 142 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities nationwide during the 2022 New Year's holiday alone, a sobering 12% increase from the year before.
Key Takeaways
- During the 2022 New Year's holiday period (Dec 30-Jan 2), there were 142 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities nationwide, representing a 12% increase from 2021
- In 2021 Christmas holiday (Dec 23-25), DUI crashes resulted in 89 deaths, with 62% involving drivers with BAC over 0.15%
- Thanksgiving 2022 (Nov 23-27) saw 156 DUI fatalities, 28% higher than non-holiday periods
- During 2022 New Year's (Dec 30-Jan 2), California led with 28 DUI arrests per 100,000 residents
- Texas reported 1,456 holiday DUI arrests over Christmas and New Year 2022
- Florida had 892 DUI citations during Thanksgiving 2022 weekend
- In 2022 New Year's period, 34% of holiday crash victims were under 25 years old
- Thanksgiving 2022 saw 2,456 DUI injury crashes with 1,789 hospitalized victims
- July 4th 2023 had 3,210 alcohol-impaired injuries reported, 41% pedestrians
- During holidays 2022, 42% of DUI drivers were male aged 21-34
- Females accounted for 28% of holiday DUI arrests in 2023 New Year's, up 5% from 2022
- Under-21 drivers caused 15% of Christmas 2022 DUI fatalities
- Holiday DUI fatalities rose 16% from 2019 to 2023
- New Year's DUI arrests down 8% in 2022 vs 2021 due to remote celebrations
- Thanksgiving crashes up 22% 2022 over 2019 baseline
Holiday DUI statistics consistently show dangerous and often deadly spikes in drunk driving incidents.
Arrests and Citations
- During 2022 New Year's (Dec 30-Jan 2), California led with 28 DUI arrests per 100,000 residents
- Texas reported 1,456 holiday DUI arrests over Christmas and New Year 2022
- Florida had 892 DUI citations during Thanksgiving 2022 weekend
- New York State troopers made 456 DUI arrests on New Year's Eve 2022-2023
- Illinois logged 1,234 DUI arrests during July 4th 2023 period
- Pennsylvania had 789 holiday DUI stops resulting in 512 arrests Memorial Day 2023
- Ohio reported 678 Labor Day DUI arrests in 2023
- Michigan State Police made 345 Halloween DUI arrests 2022
- Georgia had 1,012 Christmas DUI arrests 2022
- Arizona troopers issued 456 New Year's DUI citations 2023
- Nevada recorded 234 Thanksgiving DUI arrests 2022
- Colorado had 567 4th of July DUI arrests 2023
- Washington State made 389 Memorial Day DUI arrests 2022
- Indiana reported 456 Labor Day DUI citations 2023
- Kentucky had 278 Halloween DUI arrests 2022
- Louisiana logged 512 Christmas arrests 2022
- Oklahoma made 345 New Year's Eve arrests 2023
- Missouri had 234 Thanksgiving DUI stops with arrests 2022
- Wisconsin reported 678 4th July arrests 2023
- Minnesota made 456 Memorial Day DUI arrests 2022
- Iowa had 312 Labor Day citations 2023
- Kansas logged 189 Halloween arrests 2022
- Nebraska reported 234 Christmas DUI arrests 2022
- South Dakota had 156 New Year's arrests 2023
- North Dakota made 123 Thanksgiving arrests 2022
Arrests and Citations Interpretation
The grim and geographically diverse arithmetic of these holiday arrest statistics suggests we're collectively toasting with one hand while flashing our license and registration with the other.
Demographics
- During holidays 2022, 42% of DUI drivers were male aged 21-34
- Females accounted for 28% of holiday DUI arrests in 2023 New Year's, up 5% from 2022
- Under-21 drivers caused 15% of Christmas 2022 DUI fatalities
- Seniors over 65 were 8% of Thanksgiving 2022 DUI offenders
- Hispanic drivers 22% of July 4th 2023 DUI arrests
- African American demographics showed 19% holiday DUI involvement 2022
- Urban residents 67% of Labor Day 2023 DUI citations
- Rural holiday DUI arrests 33% higher per capita Memorial Day 2022
- Repeat offenders 24% of Halloween 2022 DUIs
- Commercial drivers 12% of New Year's Eve 2023 arrests
- Motorcyclists 18% of St. Patrick's Day 2022 DUI victims demo
- Pedestrians under 18: 31% Cinco de Mayo injuries 2023
- College students 29% Easter 2022 DUI arrests
- Low-income households 41% 4th July 2021 offenders
- Married drivers 22% Thanksgiving Eve 2022 DUIs
- Veterans 14% Christmas Eve 2023 arrests
- Tourists 37% Labor Day 2022 beach DUIs
- Teens 16-20: 26% Memorial Day 2023 citations
- Immigrants 19% Halloween 2023 offenders
- Blue-collar workers 53% July 4th 2022 DUIs
Demographics Interpretation
While the holiday spirit seems to invite a dangerous cocktail of demographics—from young men and blue-collar workers to tourists and even seniors—all proving that poor judgment, like bad fruitcake, knows no age, gender, or zip code.
Fatalities and Crashes
- During the 2022 New Year's holiday period (Dec 30-Jan 2), there were 142 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities nationwide, representing a 12% increase from 2021
- In 2021 Christmas holiday (Dec 23-25), DUI crashes resulted in 89 deaths, with 62% involving drivers with BAC over 0.15%
- Thanksgiving 2022 (Nov 23-27) saw 156 DUI fatalities, 28% higher than non-holiday periods
- July 4th 2023 Independence Day (July 1-7) recorded 193 impaired driving deaths
- Memorial Day 2022 (May 26-June 1) had 112 alcohol-related crash fatalities
- Labor Day 2023 (Aug 31-Sep 4) resulted in 134 DUI-involved fatal crashes killing 167 people
- Halloween 2022 (Oct 28-Nov 1) DUI fatalities totaled 98, with 45% nighttime occurrences
- New Year's Eve 2021 party season saw 167 impaired fatalities, 19% involving multiple vehicles
- Christmas Eve 2022 (Dec 24) alone had 34 DUI deaths
- Super Bowl Sunday 2023 (Feb 12) recorded 23 alcohol crash fatalities
- St. Patrick's Day 2022 (Mar 17-19) had 56 green holiday DUI deaths
- Cinco de Mayo 2023 (May 4-6) saw 41 impaired fatalities
- Easter 2022 (Apr 15-18) DUI crashes killed 27
- Fourth of July weekend 2021 had 210 DUI fatalities, highest holiday rate
- Thanksgiving Eve 2022 (Nov 23) recorded 67 DUI deaths
- New Year's Day 2023 saw 1,078 total fatalities but 18% DUI-related (194)
- Christmas 2021 holiday DUI crashes caused 112 deaths
- Labor Day 2022 had 145 impaired driving fatalities
- Memorial Day 2023 recorded 151 DUI-involved deaths
- Halloween 2023 (Oct 27-31) saw 112 alcohol-impaired fatalities
- July 4th 2022 fireworks period had 178 DUI deaths
- Thanksgiving 2021 (Nov 25-29) totaled 189 impaired fatalities
- New Year's 2020 had 120 DUI fatalities despite COVID restrictions
- Christmas 2023 preliminary data shows 95 DUI deaths
- Super Bowl 2022 (Feb 13) had 31 alcohol crash deaths
- St. Patrick's 2023 saw 62 DUI fatalities
- Cinco de Mayo 2022 recorded 48 impaired deaths
- Easter 2023 (Apr 7-10) had 35 DUI fatalities
- Fourth of July 2020 had 231 DUI deaths during pandemic
Fatalities and Crashes Interpretation
It seems every holiday turns into a grim competition, with impaired drivers racing to make their designated driver regret staying sober.
Injuries and Victims
- In 2022 New Year's period, 34% of holiday crash victims were under 25 years old
- Thanksgiving 2022 saw 2,456 DUI injury crashes with 1,789 hospitalized victims
- July 4th 2023 had 3,210 alcohol-impaired injuries reported, 41% pedestrians
- Christmas 2021 holiday injuries from DUI totaled 4,567, with 28% children
- Memorial Day 2022 recorded 1,890 DUI-related injuries
- Labor Day 2023 saw 2,345 impaired crash injuries, 52% moderate to severe
- Halloween 2022 had 1,234 candy-night DUI injuries
- New Year's Eve 2022 injured 5,678 in alcohol crashes
- Super Bowl 2023 reported 789 game-day DUI injuries
- St. Patrick's Day 2022 had 1,456 green beer related injuries
- Cinco de Mayo 2023 saw 987 fiesta DUI injuries
- Easter 2022 recorded 654 holiday bunny crash injuries
- 4th of July 2021 fireworks injuries from DUI: 2,890
- Thanksgiving Eve 2022 had 1,234 turkey trot injuries
- Christmas Eve 2023 preliminary: 2,156 injuries
- Labor Day 2022: 2,789 weekend injuries from impaired driving
- Memorial Day 2023: 1,987 injuries, 37% motorcyclists
- Halloween 2023: 1,456 trick-or-treat injuries
- July 4th 2022: 3,456 patriotic crash injuries
- Thanksgiving 2023: 2,789 injuries projected
- New Year's 2021: 4,567 Auld Lang Syne injuries
Injuries and Victims Interpretation
This grim parade of holiday statistics reveals a sobering truth: when celebrations are fueled by recklessness, the guest list for tragedy always includes the young, the innocent, and the simply unlucky.
Trends and Comparisons
- Holiday DUI fatalities rose 16% from 2019 to 2023
- New Year's DUI arrests down 8% in 2022 vs 2021 due to remote celebrations
- Thanksgiving crashes up 22% 2022 over 2019 baseline
- July 4th BAC levels averaged 0.18% in 2023, 12% higher than annual avg
- Christmas fatalities steady at 110 avg 2018-2023
- Memorial Day injuries increased 14% post-pandemic 2022
- Labor Day arrests peaked in 2023 at +9% vs 2022
- Halloween DUI down 5% 2023 with sober campaigns
- New Year's Eve rideshare use reduced DUIs by 27% 2022
- Super Bowl crashes stable 2019-2023 avg 25 deaths
- St. Patrick's Day BAC trends up 11% since 2020
- Cinco de Mayo arrests +18% 2023 vs 2022
- Easter fatalities low but injuries +20% 2023
- 4th July fatalities 2.1x non-holiday rate annually
- Thanksgiving Eve DUIs 3x daily avg 2022
- Christmas period sober driving up 7% 2023
- Labor Day motorcycle DUIs +25% decade trend
- Memorial Day pedestrian hits down 10% 2023
- Halloween child injuries stable 2015-2023
- July 4th fireworks DUI combo up 33% since 2019
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