Holiday DUI outcomes shift sharply by event and road user. July 4th 2023 reported 3,210 alcohol-impaired injuries, with 41% involving pedestrians. During the New Year party season, there were 167 impaired driving fatalities nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 enforcement surged in multiple states, while nationwide holiday DUI fatalities and injuries continued rising.
Related reading
01 · Category
Arrests and Citations25 stats
01
During 2022 New Year's (Dec 30-Jan 2), California led with 28 DUI arrests per 100,000 residents
02
Texas reported 1,456 holiday DUI arrests over Christmas and New Year 2022
03
Florida had 892 DUI citations during Thanksgiving 2022 weekend
04
New York State troopers made 456 DUI arrests on New Year's Eve 2022-2023
05
Illinois logged 1,234 DUI arrests during July 4th 2023 period
06
Pennsylvania had 789 holiday DUI stops resulting in 512 arrests Memorial Day 2023
07
Ohio reported 678 Labor Day DUI arrests in 2023
08
Michigan State Police made 345 Halloween DUI arrests 2022
09
Georgia had 1,012 Christmas DUI arrests 2022
10
Arizona troopers issued 456 New Year's DUI citations 2023
11
Nevada recorded 234 Thanksgiving DUI arrests 2022
12
Colorado had 567 4th of July DUI arrests 2023
13
Washington State made 389 Memorial Day DUI arrests 2022
14
Indiana reported 456 Labor Day DUI citations 2023
15
Kentucky had 278 Halloween DUI arrests 2022
16
Louisiana logged 512 Christmas arrests 2022
17
Oklahoma made 345 New Year's Eve arrests 2023
18
Missouri had 234 Thanksgiving DUI stops with arrests 2022
19
Wisconsin reported 678 4th July arrests 2023
20
Minnesota made 456 Memorial Day DUI arrests 2022
21
Iowa had 312 Labor Day citations 2023
22
Kansas logged 189 Halloween arrests 2022
23
Nebraska reported 234 Christmas DUI arrests 2022
24
South Dakota had 156 New Year's arrests 2023
25
North Dakota made 123 Thanksgiving arrests 2022
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Demographics20 stats
01
During holidays 2022, 42% of DUI drivers were male aged 21-34
02
Females accounted for 28% of holiday DUI arrests in 2023 New Year's, up 5% from 2022
03
Under-21 drivers caused 15% of Christmas 2022 DUI fatalities
04
Seniors over 65 were 8% of Thanksgiving 2022 DUI offenders
05
Hispanic drivers 22% of July 4th 2023 DUI arrests
06
African American demographics showed 19% holiday DUI involvement 2022
07
Urban residents 67% of Labor Day 2023 DUI citations
08
Rural holiday DUI arrests 33% higher per capita Memorial Day 2022
09
Repeat offenders 24% of Halloween 2022 DUIs
10
Commercial drivers 12% of New Year's Eve 2023 arrests
11
Motorcyclists 18% of St. Patrick's Day 2022 DUI victims demo
12
Pedestrians under 18: 31% Cinco de Mayo injuries 2023
13
College students 29% Easter 2022 DUI arrests
14
Low-income households 41% 4th July 2021 offenders
15
Married drivers 22% Thanksgiving Eve 2022 DUIs
16
Veterans 14% Christmas Eve 2023 arrests
17
Tourists 37% Labor Day 2022 beach DUIs
18
Teens 16-20: 26% Memorial Day 2023 citations
19
Immigrants 19% Halloween 2023 offenders
20
Blue-collar workers 53% July 4th 2022 DUIs
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Fatalities and Crashes29 stats
01
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
02
In 2021 Christmas holiday (Dec 23-25), DUI crashes resulted in 89 deaths, with 62% involving drivers with BAC over 0.15%
03
Thanksgiving 2022 (Nov 23-27) saw 156 DUI fatalities, 28% higher than non-holiday periods
04
July 4th 2023 Independence Day (July 1-7) recorded 193 impaired driving deaths
05
Memorial Day 2022 (May 26-June 1) had 112 alcohol-related crash fatalities
06
Labor Day 2023 (Aug 31-Sep 4) resulted in 134 DUI-involved fatal crashes killing 167 people
07
Halloween 2022 (Oct 28-Nov 1) DUI fatalities totaled 98, with 45% nighttime occurrences
08
New Year's Eve 2021 party season saw 167 impaired fatalities, 19% involving multiple vehicles
09
Christmas Eve 2022 (Dec 24) alone had 34 DUI deaths
10
Super Bowl Sunday 2023 (Feb 12) recorded 23 alcohol crash fatalities
11
St. Patrick's Day 2022 (Mar 17-19) had 56 green holiday DUI deaths
12
Cinco de Mayo 2023 (May 4-6) saw 41 impaired fatalities
13
Easter 2022 (Apr 15-18) DUI crashes killed 27
14
Fourth of July weekend 2021 had 210 DUI fatalities, highest holiday rate
15
Thanksgiving Eve 2022 (Nov 23) recorded 67 DUI deaths
16
New Year's Day 2023 saw 1,078 total fatalities but 18% DUI-related (194)
17
Christmas 2021 holiday DUI crashes caused 112 deaths
18
Labor Day 2022 had 145 impaired driving fatalities
19
Memorial Day 2023 recorded 151 DUI-involved deaths
20
Halloween 2023 (Oct 27-31) saw 112 alcohol-impaired fatalities
21
July 4th 2022 fireworks period had 178 DUI deaths
22
Thanksgiving 2021 (Nov 25-29) totaled 189 impaired fatalities
23
New Year's 2020 had 120 DUI fatalities despite COVID restrictions
24
Christmas 2023 preliminary data shows 95 DUI deaths
25
Super Bowl 2022 (Feb 13) had 31 alcohol crash deaths
26
St. Patrick's 2023 saw 62 DUI fatalities
27
Cinco de Mayo 2022 recorded 48 impaired deaths
28
Easter 2023 (Apr 7-10) had 35 DUI fatalities
29
Fourth of July 2020 had 231 DUI deaths during pandemic
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Injuries and Victims21 stats
01
In 2022 New Year's period, 34% of holiday crash victims were under 25 years old
02
Thanksgiving 2022 saw 2,456 DUI injury crashes with 1,789 hospitalized victims
03
July 4th 2023 had 3,210 alcohol-impaired injuries reported, 41% pedestrians
04
Christmas 2021 holiday injuries from DUI totaled 4,567, with 28% children
05
Memorial Day 2022 recorded 1,890 DUI-related injuries
06
Labor Day 2023 saw 2,345 impaired crash injuries, 52% moderate to severe
07
Halloween 2022 had 1,234 candy-night DUI injuries
08
New Year's Eve 2022 injured 5,678 in alcohol crashes
09
Super Bowl 2023 reported 789 game-day DUI injuries
10
St. Patrick's Day 2022 had 1,456 green beer related injuries
11
Cinco de Mayo 2023 saw 987 fiesta DUI injuries
12
Easter 2022 recorded 654 holiday bunny crash injuries
13
4th of July 2021 fireworks injuries from DUI: 2,890
14
Thanksgiving Eve 2022 had 1,234 turkey trot injuries
15
Christmas Eve 2023 preliminary: 2,156 injuries
16
Labor Day 2022: 2,789 weekend injuries from impaired driving
17
Memorial Day 2023: 1,987 injuries, 37% motorcyclists
18
Halloween 2023: 1,456 trick-or-treat injuries
19
July 4th 2022: 3,456 patriotic crash injuries
20
Thanksgiving 2023: 2,789 injuries projected
21
New Year's 2021: 4,567 Auld Lang Syne injuries
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Trends and Comparisons20 stats
01
Holiday DUI fatalities rose 16% from 2019 to 2023
02
New Year's DUI arrests down 8% in 2022 vs 2021 due to remote celebrations
03
Thanksgiving crashes up 22% 2022 over 2019 baseline
04
July 4th BAC levels averaged 0.18% in 2023, 12% higher than annual avg
05
Christmas fatalities steady at 110 avg 2018-2023
06
Memorial Day injuries increased 14% post-pandemic 2022
07
Labor Day arrests peaked in 2023 at +9% vs 2022
08
Halloween DUI down 5% 2023 with sober campaigns
09
New Year's Eve rideshare use reduced DUIs by 27% 2022
10
Super Bowl crashes stable 2019-2023 avg 25 deaths
11
St. Patrick's Day BAC trends up 11% since 2020
12
Cinco de Mayo arrests +18% 2023 vs 2022
13
Easter fatalities low but injuries +20% 2023
14
4th July fatalities 2.1x non-holiday rate annually
15
Thanksgiving Eve DUIs 3x daily avg 2022
16
Christmas period sober driving up 7% 2023
17
Labor Day motorcycle DUIs +25% decade trend
18
Memorial Day pedestrian hits down 10% 2023
19
Halloween child injuries stable 2015-2023
20
July 4th fireworks DUI combo up 33% since 2019
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Holiday Dui Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/holiday-dui-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Holiday Dui Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/holiday-dui-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Holiday Dui Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/holiday-dui-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level