Memorial Day kicks off the first long weekend of summer, and for tens of millions of Americans, that means road tripping. AAA projects over 39 million Americans will travel by car over the long weekend.

But the surge in travel is linked to higher crash risk. According to NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), traffic fatalities are 16.2% higher on Memorial Day than on a typical Monday in May and June. Deadly crashes involving risky driving behaviors like speeding are even higher — 29.5% above average.

To understand what’s driving this increase, CMT analyzed distracted driving and speeding on Memorial Day from 2023 through 2025, comparing it hour by hour to similar Mondays. Both distraction and speeding increase, with the largest spikes in the afternoon.

We also examined the full holiday weekend and found that speeding builds on Friday and Saturday before peaking on Memorial Day, while distraction remains relatively steady until Monday.

CMT defines distraction as phone screen tapping while driving above 9 mph, and speeding as driving 9.3 mph over the speed limit for at least 300 feet.

Drivers spend 7.3% more time interacting with their phones on Memorial Day compared to similar Mondays. The increase begins early, with distraction already 8.3% higher between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. as travelers set out.

By late morning, distraction continues to rise, increasing from 1 minute and 44 seconds to 1 minute and 51 seconds per driving hour between 10:00 a.m. and noon — a 7% increase. The most pronounced spike comes between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., when distraction jumps 12.2% — as drivers head home, coordinate plans after the long weekend, or potentially lose focus after long stretches on the road.

Drivers spend significantly more time speeding on Memorial Day — up 29% overall, rising from 2 minutes and 16 seconds to 2 minutes and 55 seconds per driving hour.

The surge begins early. By 7:00 a.m., speeding is more than double typical levels — 100% above average. By midday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., speeding remains elevated, up 46% and rising from 1 minute and 33 seconds to 2 minutes and 16 seconds per driving hour.

The riskiest part of the day comes between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., when speeding spikes 72% above normal — alongside a 12% increase in distraction — as returning travelers push to get home before evening.

We also examined driving behavior from Friday through Sunday. Distraction remains relatively steady, while speeding increases in the early part of the weekend.

On Friday, speeding rises 5.5% overall, with the sharpest increase between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., peaking at 10.8% at 5:00 p.m. as drivers begin their holiday travel.

Saturday follows a similar pattern, with speeding up 5.8% overall and elevated throughout the day, including a 7.1% increase at 2:00 p.m.

By Sunday, both speeding and distraction return to near-typical levels, before seeing a surge on Monday. 

Start the summer on the right foot

Memorial Day brings a clear increase in risky driving, especially in the afternoon, following elevated levels earlier in the weekend. Stay off your phone and resist the urge to speed. Arriving safely is the best way to start the summer.