Three US cities tie for most fatalities on the road around this September holiday.
Labor Day marks the end of summer — and your last chance to wear white. But it also marks the fourth-worst weekend to be on the roads in the United States, according to finder.com research.
Our study, which analyzed fatality data for 42 states collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2011 to 2016, finds that Labor Day averages 298 deaths on the road each year, peaking in 2016 with 321 fatal accidents.
Labor Day weekends comes in behind Fourth of July (320 deaths), Thanksgiving weekend (319) and Memorial Day (309) as the worst weekend to be on the road.
Which cities are the deadliest on Labor Day?
San Antonio, Dallas and St. Louis are tied for deadliest city on the road over Labor Day at four deaths each. Second place is a four-way tie, with a total of three deaths in Waterbury, Connecticut; Plymouth, New York; Bakersfield, California; and Denver, Colorado.
| Deadliest city | Number of deaths |
|---|---|
| San Antonio, Texas | 4 |
| Dallas, Texas | 4 |
| St. Louis, Missouri | 4 |
| Waterbury, Connecticut | 3 |
| Plymouth, New York | 3 |
| Bakersfield, California | 3 |
| Denver, Colorado | 3 |
What states are the deadliest on Labor Day?
Among states that host the most dangerous roads around Labor Day, the Lone Star State takes the lead with 33 deaths, followed closely by California at 28 and Missouri at 20.
Top 5 deadliest states
| Deadliest state | Number of deaths |
|---|---|
| Texas | 33 |
| California | 28 |
| Missouri | 20 |
| Illinois | 17 |
| Pennsylvania | 17 |
What state has the greatest number of alcohol-related road deaths?
Little surprise that the top three states as far as road deaths over Labor Day are also the states with the highest rates of drunk driving deaths, albeit in a different order. California is the worst offender, with 12 deaths related to alcohol, followed by Missouri (10) and Texas (9).
| Deadliest state | Number of drunk-driving deaths |
|---|---|
| California | 12 |
| Missouri | 10 |
| Texas | 9 |
| Colorado | 7 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 |
| Georgia | 5 |
| Oregon | 5 |
Which city has the greatest number of drunk driving deaths?
California and Texas are home to two cities with the highest proportion of drunk driving deaths: Bakersfield and San Antonio with two deaths each.
| Deadliest city | Number of drunk-driving deaths |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield, California | 2 |
| San Antonio, Texas | 2 |
What time of day is deadliest to drive on Labor Day weekend?
Getting behind the wheel at night is nearly twice as dangerous as driving in the morning, with 42% of deadly accidents occurring between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., compared with 24% between the hours of 5 a.m. and noon.
| Time of day | Number of deaths | % of Total deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 77 | 24% |
| Afternoon/Evening | 109 | 34% |
| Night | 135 | 42% |
How many of these deaths are alcohol related?
Of all of the driving fatalities over the long Labor Day weekend, 31% are related to driving while drunk, with the bulk (67%) happening at night.
| Time of day | Number of deaths | % of Total deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 9 | 9% |
| Afternoon/Evening | 24 | 24% |
| Night | 66 | 67% |
Getting the right car insurance
If you’re hitting the road around Labor Day on two or more wheels, make sure you’re protected with right insurance. A policy can’t stop something bad from happening, but it can protect you financially after a car accident.
To find the right policy that fits your driving habits and history, compare your car insurance options.
For media inquiries:
Jennifer McDermott
Consumer advocate helping people improve their personal finances.
Ask an Expert