Below outlines the NSC analysis of NHTSA FARS data for Memorial Day accident statistics, including: traffic deaths on Memorial Day vs. the month of May as well as a comparison to other major holiday periods.
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. Per the National Safety Council (NSC)’s guidelines, the holiday is always a 3.25-day weekend consisting of Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Table of Contents
- Memorial Day Traffic Fatalities By Year
- Percent of Memorial Day Traffic Fatalities Involving Alcohol-Impaired Driving
- Motor-Vehicle Fatalities on Memorial Day as a Percentage of May
- Memorial Day Traffic Fatalities vs. Other Holidays
Memorial Day Traffic Fatalities By Year
| Year | Deaths |
| 1995 | 471 |
| 1996 | 494 |
| 1997 | 498 |
| 1998 | 383 |
| 1999 | 494 |
| 2000 | 451 |
| 2001 | 499 |
| 2002 | 484 |
| 2003 | 472 |
| 2004 | 496 |
| 2005 | 512 |
| 2006 | 493 |
| 2007 | 475 |
| 2008 | 414 |
| 2009 | 462 |
| 2010 | 389 |
| 2011 | 389 |
| 2012 | 367 |
| 2013 | 334 |
| 2014 | 337 |
| 2015 | 370 |
| 2016 | 392 |
| 2017 | 345 |
| 2018 | 430 |
| 2019 | 453 |
| 2020 | 396 |
| 2021 | 453 |
Percent of Memorial Day Traffic Fatalities Involving Alcohol-Impaired Driving
| Year | Memorial Day | Annual Average |
| 1995 | 40% | 32% |
| 1996 | 43% | 32% |
| 1997 | 40% | 30% |
| 1998 | 40% | 30% |
| 1999 | 42% | 30% |
| 2000 | 46% | 32% |
| 2001 | 44% | 31% |
| 2002 | 37% | 31% |
| 2003 | 37% | 31% |
| 2004 | 38% | 31% |
| 2005 | 39% | 31% |
| 2006 | 40% | 32% |
| 2007 | 37% | 32% |
| 2008 | 41% | 31% |
| 2009 | 42% | 32% |
| 2010 | 40% | 31% |
| 2011 | 40% | 30% |
| 2012 | 44% | 31% |
| 2013 | 38% | 31% |
| 2014 | 37% | 30% |
| 2015 | 39% | 29% |
| 2016 | 37% | 28% |
| 2017 | 37% | 29% |
| 2018 | 38% | 29% |
| 2019 | 37% | 28% |
Motor-Vehicle Fatalities on Memorial Day as a Percentage of May
| Year | May | Memorial Day Period | Percent |
| 2014 | 3,038 | 337 | 11.09% |
| 2015 | 3,339 | 370 | 11.08% |
| 2016 | 3,481 | 392 | 11.26% |
| 2017 | 3,416 | 345 | 10.10% |
| 2018 | 3,443 | 430 | 12.49% |
| 2019 | 3,417 | 453 | 13.26% |
Memorial Day Traffic Fatalities vs. Other Holidays
| Year | Memorial Day | New Year’s Day | Independence Day | Labor Day | Thanksgiving Day | Christmas Day |
| 1995 | 145 | 148 | 151 | 122 | 105 | |
| 1996 | 152 | 127 | 143 | 156 | 134 | 109 |
| 1997 | 153 | 141 | 151 | 149 | 130 | 110 |
| 1998 | 118 | 125 | 141 | 138 | 138 | 109 |
| 1999 | 152 | 107 | 154 | 144 | 133 | 140 |
| 2000 | 139 | 141 | 161 | 158 | 117 | 129 |
| 2001 | 154 | 104 | 138 | 133 | 136 | 135 |
| 2002 | 149 | 130 | 156 | 165 | 124 | 91 |
| 2003 | 145 | 162 | 154 | 151 | 128 | 115 |
| 2004 | 153 | 129 | 154 | 148 | 131 | 114 |
| 2005 | 158 | 138 | 174 | 154 | 142 | 118 |
| 2006 | 152 | 133 | 148 | 150 | 147 | 117 |
| 2007 | 146 | 119 | 147 | 156 | 128 | 107 |
| 2008 | 127 | 96 | 145 | 146 | 114 | 96 |
| 2009 | 142 | 108 | 122 | 108 | 94 | 76 |
| 2010 | 120 | 88 | 112 | 120 | 98 | 77 |
| 2011 | 120 | 94 | 125 | 115 | 88 | 79 |
| 2012 | 113 | 107 | 126 | 116 | 95 | 83 |
| 2013 | 103 | 81 | 108 | 114 | 85 | 70 |
| 2014 | 104 | 101 | 107 | 111 | 95 | 84 |
| 2015 | 113 | 84 | 113 | 121 | 91 | 84 |
| 2016 | 120 | 84 | 122 | 117 | 101 | 94 |
| 2017 | 106 | 101 | 124 | 106 | 109 | 92 |
| 2018 | 132 | 100 | 140 | 133 | 102 | 100 |
| 2019 | 139 | 101 | 117 | 133 | 96 | 103 |
Sources:
- https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/memorial-day/
- https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/memorial-day/data-details/
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