Fourth of July Driving Safety: Why July 4 Is the Deadliest Day on U.S. Roads

Fourth of July driving safety deserves a plan, not just a reminder. Independence Day is typically one of the deadliest days of the year on U.S. roads, and from 2020 to 2024 it was the single deadliest day, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Big gatherings, late-night drives home, alcohol, fireworks traffic and summer road trips all pile up on the same evening. Add a phone in hand and the margin for error disappears. July 4, 2027 falls on a Sunday, so many people will have a long weekend on the road.

The deadliest days of the year

Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: Yearly snapshot.

July as a whole had 3,366 crash deaths in 2024, about 9% of the year’s total, according to IIHS.

Why July 4 is so dangerous

• Alcohol. Holiday parties and cookouts mean more impaired drivers. Nationally, NHTSA counted 11,904 deaths in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in 2024.
• Evening and late-night driving. People head home after fireworks, often tired, in the dark and in heavy traffic.
• Crowds on foot. Fireworks shows bring pedestrians into streets and parking lots.
• Unfamiliar roads. Road trips to lakes, beaches and family homes mean more drivers relying on phone navigation.
• Distraction. Coordinating rides, sharing photos and checking group chats all tempt drivers to look down.

How to get home safely

1. Plan a sober ride before the party. Choose a designated driver, use a rideshare or stay over. Our guide to rideshare and delivery drivers covers what those drivers face too.
2. Set navigation before you leave, and mount the phone. See our best hands-free car phone mounts.
3. Turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving. Group chats can wait. See our setup guide.
4. Expect pedestrians after the fireworks. Slow down near parks, beaches and event lots. See distracted driving and pedestrian safety.
5. Leave later or earlier to avoid the post-show rush.
6. Do not drive tired. Long holiday days end late; see distracted and drowsy driving.
7. Buckle up for every trip, even short ones.

For long drives, our summer road trip phone-free guide has a full checklist, and driving at night explains why evening trips carry more risk.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Fourth of July the deadliest day to drive?

From 2020 to 2024, yes. IIHS counted 761 crash deaths on July 4 over those five years, an average of 152 a year, the most of any date.

What time of day is most dangerous on July 4?

IIHS data for all of 2024 shows 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. had the most crash deaths of any three-hour window, which lines up with evening travel to and from celebrations.

What day of the week is July 4, 2027?

Sunday.

How can I avoid a crash on the Fourth of July?

Plan a sober ride, set your route before leaving, silence your phone, slow down near crowds and avoid driving tired.

Sources

• IIHS: Fatality Facts 2024, Yearly snapshot. Deadliest days 2020 to 2024, deaths by month, day of week and time of day.
• NHTSA: Drunk Driving. Alcohol-impaired-driving deaths.
• NHTSA: Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024, DOT HS 813 791. National totals.
• NHTSA: Distracted Driving in 2024, DOT HS 813 790. Distraction deaths.

Last reviewed: November 5, 2026

TextingWithDriving.com is professionally built and maintained to ensure accurate, accessible safety information reaches every driver who needs it. Website development and ongoing support is handled by Budgetic, a digital agency specializing in purpose-driven WordPress websites.