Labor Day gives millions of Americans one last chance to get away before summer winds down. Last year, an estimated 95 million Americans planned a day trip to the beach or traveled to a Labor Day party.

As Americans make the most of the long weekend, driving on Labor Day comes with added risk. According to NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 2020 to 2024, Labor Day averaged 116 fatal crashes — 12% more than the recorded crashes on a typical Monday surrounding the long weekend. Fatal crashes involving speeding are also 36% higher on Labor Day.

CMT’s latest analysis looks at how driving behavior shifts on Labor Day. Drawing on more than 32 million trips from 2023 to 2025, we compared distraction, speeding, and high-speed distraction on the holiday with the same hours on surrounding Mondays. All three behaviors increase, with some of the biggest spikes occurring during the morning and afternoon travel windows.

CMT defines distraction as tapping on a phone while driving above 9 mph and speeding as driving at least 9.3 mph over the posted speed limit for at least 300 feet. High-speed distraction measures phone movement with the screen on while driving above 50 mph.

Drivers spend 8.5% more time interacting with their phones on Labor Day than on a typical Monday, up from 1 minute and 43 seconds to 1 minute and 52 seconds per driving hour.

The increase starts early and builds throughout the day. From 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., distraction is 6.1% higher than normal as Labor Day travel gets underway. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., it climbs to 9.2% above typical levels.

Late afternoon marks a shift in Labor Day travel, as drivers may begin making their way home. It’s also when distraction reaches its highest point. From 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., drivers spend 11.1% more time on their phones than on a typical Monday.

Elevated distraction continues into the evening. From 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., distraction remains 4.4% above typical Monday levels.

Drivers also speed more on Labor Day, spending 34% more time speeding than on a similar Monday. The sharpest jump comes in the morning. From 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., speeding time nearly doubles, increasing by 90% from 1 minute and 37 seconds to 3 minutes and 4 seconds per driving hour.

The morning increase continues through midday. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., drivers spend 54% more time speeding than usual. 

By late afternoon, the gap widens again. From 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., time spent speeding is 78% higher than on a typical Monday. It’s also the same window in which distraction reaches its high point, rising 11.1%.

As the holiday starts winding down, speeding remains elevated. From 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., speeding stays 34.4% higher than usual.

Drivers also spend more time distracted while traveling at highway speeds on Labor Day. High-speed distraction increases 12.7% overall, from 29 seconds to 32 seconds per driving hour.

The biggest spike occurs during the morning travel window. From 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., drivers spend 26% more time distracted at highway speeds than on a typical Monday.

High-speed distraction picks up again in the afternoon. From 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., it rises 18.8%, from 26 seconds to 31 seconds per driving hour. It remains elevated into the evening, with drivers spending 10.7% more time distracted at highway speeds from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Close out the summer safely 

Labor Day’s road risk stretches across the day, from elevated speeding in the morning to increased distraction and speeding as drivers head home in the afternoon and evening.

The safest way to enjoy the last long weekend of summer is simple: give yourself extra time, ease off the gas, and save calls and messages until you’re parked. The best Labor Day trip is one that ends safely.