Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, prompting millions to travel by car for a long weekend of celebrations. It’s also a risky weekend for drivers and passengers. While Memorial Day weekend is one of the most dangerous weekends of the year for drivers, risky driving on Memorial Day itself is even worse.

According to the National Safety Council, Memorial Day weekend experiences 8.1% more traffic fatalities than surrounding weekends. Memorial Day sees even higher crash rates than major winter holidays — 16% more than Thanksgiving, 19% more than New Year’s Day, and nearly 32% more than Christmas Day. 

What’s driving the uptick in severe crashes? Increased travel plays a big role. This year, AAA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. But it’s not just the increased number of drivers. Risky driving behaviors, like speeding and distracted driving, also see sharp rises. 

CMT analyzed driving on Memorial Day from 2022 to 2024. We found a significant jump in speeding and distraction on Memorial Day compared to the Mondays before and after the holiday.

Speeding starts early

CMT found that speeding surges 52% on Memorial Day compared to average Mondays. It starts as early as 6:00 a.m., with rates 61% higher than usual. By 7:00 a.m., speeding peaks at 107% above average. During the morning, drivers exceed the limit for 3 minutes and 38 seconds each hour. CMT research reveals that there are also 64% fewer drivers on the road than on a typical Monday morning commute. The open roads and the urge to beat traffic may tempt drivers to speed to reach their destinations.

As the morning progresses, traffic volume picks up. From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Memorial Day, traffic is 2.4% higher than usual. However, speeding remains 44% above average.

The trend continues into the afternoon. Between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., speeding is 72% higher than on a typical Monday. Speeding reaches its highest afternoon point at 4:00 p.m. when drivers speed for nearly 3 minutes per hour — an 83% increase.

A rise in distraction compounds the danger

Adding to the danger, distracted driving is also elevated all day — 8.9% higher than a typical Monday. CMT defines distracted driving as tapping on the phone screen while driving over 9 mph. 

Distraction rises in the late morning and early afternoon. From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., distraction is up 12.7% compared to other Mondays. Traffic also reaches its apex during this three-hour window, making it one of the riskiest times to be on the road.

Distraction remains high through the late afternoon, with its widest gap reaching 19.2% at 5:00 p.m. After 7:00 p.m., distraction rates return to average levels. 

Don’t let your drive home ruin the weekend 

As Memorial Day weekend kicks off Summer, do your part to drive safely. Speeding, texting, and trying to beat traffic won’t get you there faster — they just put everyone at risk. Take your time, plan your return trip, and stay focused behind the wheel, so you can arrive at your destination safely and enjoy all the summer fun ahead!