Auto Insurance
Thanksgiving Dangers Ahead: Crash Deaths and Cooking Injuries
Thanksgiving is a time for family and food. And while your turkey may be top of mind, the holidays often mean more people on the road — and a higher risk of crashes. Not only that, but cooking mishaps may also lead to emergency department trips.
We’ll go over the most dangerous Thanksgiving road travel days, as well as cooking injuries during the holiday season. Additionally, stick around for tips on how your homeowners insurance and car insurance can best help you during a holiday weekend.
On this page
- Key findings
- 1,478 people died in Thanksgiving holiday crashes between 2019 and 2021
- Which day of the holiday weekend is the most deadly?
- Mississippi had the highest average Thanksgiving holiday deaths — here are the states that followed
- Cooking accidents are more common on Thanksgiving
- Your Thanksgiving checklist: Expert tips on home and auto insurance
- Methodology
Key findings
- From 2019 through 2021 (the latest year available), 1,478 people died in crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday. 531 occurred in 2021 in the studied period between 6 p.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and 6 a.m. the Monday after. Comparatively, 424 deaths happened in that period in 2019.
- While Thanksgiving is a riskier-than-average Thursday for road travel, not every day of the holiday weekend is perilous. Over those three years from 2019 through 2021, an average of 107 people died in crashes on Thanksgiving Day — 5.8% higher than the average of 101 crash deaths on Thursdays in those same three years. However, the Saturday after Thanksgiving was 22.1% less risky than a typical Saturday.
- Mississippi had the highest average of Thanksgiving holiday deaths per 1 million residents between 2019 and 2021. Mississippi had an average of 3.7 deaths per 1 million residents during this period. South Carolina (3.3) and Louisiana (2.9) followed. No Thanksgiving holiday fatalities were reported in Vermont and the District of Columbia in these three years.
- Cooking accidents from household appliances and kitchenware resulting in emergency department visits were more likely to occur on Thanksgiving. Between 2018 and 2022, 121.5% more people visited emergency departments during Thanksgiving compared to a typical Thursday. In the five years analyzed, 2020 saw the highest number of Thanksgiving cooking accidents, with 4,846 resulting in hospital visits — 173.5% higher than the typical Thursday that year.
1,478 people died in Thanksgiving holiday crashes between 2019 and 2021
From 2019 through 2021, 1,478 people died in crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday, which begins at 6 p.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and ends at 6 a.m. the Monday after.
According to ValuePenguin insurance expert Divya Sangameshwar, the high number of Americans traveling by car for the holiday plays a role — as well as the dangerous nature of this mode of transportation.
"Holidays are traditionally a time of travel for families across the U.S.," she says. "Many choose car travel for its affordability and convenience, but cars are by far the most dangerous motorized transportation option. Holidays also often involve alcohol consumption, a major factor in crashes."
According to AAA, 49 million Americans were expected to travel by car in 2022 for Thanksgiving — significantly higher than the 4.5 million expected to fly and 1.4 million expected to travel by bus, train or ship.
In the 10 years through 2021, the death rate per 100 million passenger miles was more than 20 times higher for cars than for buses, according to the National Safety Council. Meanwhile, it was 17 times higher than for passenger trains and 595 times higher than for scheduled airlines.
Number of deaths from crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday
Day of the week | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 424 | 523 | 531 | 493 |
| Wednesday | 40 | 64 | 33 | 46 |
| Thursday | 95 | 100 | 126 | 107 |
| Friday | 99 | 126 | 119 | 115 |
| Saturday | 99 | 89 | 115 | 101 |
| Sunday | 80 | 125 | 121 | 109 |
| Monday | 11 | 19 | 17 | 16 |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data. Note: The Thanksgiving holiday begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving and ends at 6 a.m. Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend. Note: Average deaths are displayed with rounded figures.
The number of Thanksgiving deaths rose steadily during the period analyzed, too. While there were 424 deaths in 2019, that figure rose to 523 in 2020 and 531 in 2021. Sangameshwar attributes that rise to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Americans started driving after months of being locked down at home, and those driving got used to the empty roads and speeding," she says. "As a result, many drivers lost the road awareness or patience they usually have with navigating heavy traffic, leading them to take more risks. A combination of a risky pool of drivers and more drivers on the road contributed to this increase in Thanksgiving fatalities — a trend we hope is reversed in 2023."
According to a survey from AAA, the percentage of Americans who admitted to unsafe driving behavior rose significantly between 2020 and 2021. More specifically, 23.7% more Americans reported driving after believing they’d had enough to drink to be over the legal limit, 13.6% more reported driving within an hour of consuming cannabis and 12.4% more reported driving at least 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway.
With dangerous driving habits on the rise, mistakes can be costly. Another ValuePenguin study found that fatal hit-and-runs rose 89.4% from 2012 through 2021.
Thanksgiving isn’t the most dangerous holiday
While holidays can pose an elevated risk for drivers and passengers, it’s worth noting that Thanksgiving isn’t the most perilous holiday for road travel. Between 2019 and 2021, there were 1,548 crash deaths during the Fourth of July holiday — the highest among the major holidays we tracked.
Number of deaths from fatal crashes during holiday periods (by year)
Holiday | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | 464 | 405 | 480 | 1,349 |
| Fourth of July | 516 | 494 | 538 | 1,548 |
| Labor Day | 456 | 533 | 531 | 1,520 |
| Thanksgiving | 424 | 523 | 531 | 1,478 |
| Christmas | 147 | 347 | 395 | 889 |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Across the three years analyzed, Thanksgiving was more dangerous than the Fourth of July during one year — 2020. That year, there were 523 crash deaths during the Thanksgiving holiday — more than the 494 over the Fourth of July holiday.
Important caveat: Not all holiday periods are equal. Holidays, as tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), differ based on the day of the week. For example, Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, so the examined period is 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Monday every time. And Labor Day is always on a Monday, so the examined period is 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Tuesday every time. That means the Labor Day period is one day shorter than the Thanksgiving one, making the numbers more stark.
Which day of the holiday weekend is the most deadly?
Thanksgiving itself may be a riskier-than-average Thursday for road travel, but some days of the holiday weekend are less perilous than others. Over the three years analyzed, an average of 107 people died in fatal crashes on Thanksgiving Day — 5.8% higher than the average of 101 crash deaths on Thursdays in those same three years.
Specifically, there were 126 crash deaths on Thanksgiving Day in 2021 — a 14.2% increase compared to a typical Thursday in the same year.
Average number of deaths from crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday compared to a typical day of the week, 2019 to 2021
Day of the week | Average deaths from crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday | Average deaths from crashes on that day of the week | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 107 | 101 | 5.8% |
| Friday | 115 | 119 | -3.9% |
| Saturday | 101 | 130 | -22.1% |
| Sunday | 109 | 119 | -8.8% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data. Note: While deaths are displayed with rounded figures, the percentage difference was calculated using unrounded numbers.
Still, it’s worth noting that the Saturday after Thanksgiving is 22.1% less risky than a typical Saturday, making it the least dangerous day for road travel during the holiday weekend (at least compared to its counterpart).
It’s not just the day you travel — the time you hit the road matters, too. The most dangerous time to drive during the Thanksgiving holiday is between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., which accounted for 9.8% of Thanksgiving holiday fatalities from 2019 through 2021.
Deaths from crashes by the time of day during the Thanksgiving holiday, 2019 to 2021
Time | Fatalities | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| 12 to 12:59 a.m. | 76 | 5.1% |
| 1 to 1:59 a.m. | 56 | 3.8% |
| 2 to 2:59 a.m. | 79 | 5.3% |
| 3 to 3:59 a.m. | 48 | 3.2% |
| 4 to 4:59 a.m. | 41 | 2.8% |
| 5 to 5:59 a.m. | 43 | 2.9% |
| 6 to 6:59 a.m. | 40 | 2.7% |
| 7 to 7:59 a.m. | 36 | 2.4% |
| 8 to 8:59 a.m. | 31 | 2.1% |
| 9 to 9:59 a.m. | 25 | 1.7% |
| 10 to 10:59 a.m. | 43 | 2.9% |
| 11 to 11:59 a.m. | 34 | 2.3% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data. Note: Another four deaths were labeled as unknown hours and weren’t included here.
Mississippi had the highest average Thanksgiving holiday deaths — here are the states that followed
When it comes to the most dangerous state for Thanksgiving travel, Mississippi topped the list. Mississippi had an average of 3.7 deaths per 1 million residents between 2019 and 2021.
It’s not just Thanksgiving, either. Mississippi regularly tops similar lists, ranking as the deadliest state for workers who commute by car and the second-deadliest state for teen drivers. In all instances, low seat belt usage in the state likely plays a role. According to the NHTSA, Mississippi’s seat belt usage rate was 80.0% in 2021, while the national rate was 90.4%.
States with the highest average of Thanksgiving holiday deaths
Rank | tate | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Average | Average fatalities per 1 million residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 3.7 |
| 2 | South Carolina | 23 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 3.3 |
| 3 | Louisiana | 8 | 8 | 24 | 13 | 2.9 |
| 4 | Alabama | 16 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 2.7 |
| 4 | Arkansas | 8 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 2.7 |
| 4 | Florida | 50 | 76 | 45 | 57 | 2.7 |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data. Note: Average deaths are displayed with rounded figures.
According to Sangameshwar, these figures likely impact all Mississippi drivers — particularly when it comes to their insurance.
"Car insurance companies generally ask for rate increases from the state insurance commissioner if their business costs have increased because of accidents, claims costs and car thefts," she says. "One holiday weekend alone isn’t going to drive up rates for everyone — those are calculated based on how the year turned out. However, if you cause an accident, receive a speeding ticket or get convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), your premium will increase by an average of 72% in the state."
According to the ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2023 report, Mississippi has the fourth-largest increase in full coverage auto insurance rates for drivers with a ticket, accident or DUI on their driving record.
After Mississippi, South Carolina had the highest average Thanksgiving holiday deaths, at 3.3 per 1 million residents between 2019 and 2021. Louisiana (2.9) followed. Meanwhile, no Thanksgiving holiday fatalities were reported in Vermont and the District of Columbia during this period.
Full rankings
States with the highest/lowest average Thanksgiving holiday deaths
Rank | State | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Average | Average fatalities per 1 million residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 3.7 |
| 2 | South Carolina | 23 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 3.3 |
| 3 | Louisiana | 8 | 8 | 24 | 13 | 2.9 |
| 4 | Alabama | 16 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 2.7 |
| 4 | Arkansas | 8 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 2.7 |
| 4 | Florida | 50 | 76 | 45 | 57 | 2.7 |
| 7 | New Mexico | 1 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 2.2 |
| 7 | West Virginia | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2.2 |
| 9 | Texas | 38 | 77 | 66 | 60 | 2.1 |
| 10 | Georgia | 15 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 2.0 |
| 10 | Missouri | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 2.0 |
| 10 | Nevada | 6 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2.0 |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data. Note: Average deaths are displayed with rounded figures.
Cooking accidents are more common on Thanksgiving
It’s not just accidents on the road — mistakes in the kitchen could land you in the emergency department. In fact, 121.5% more people visited emergency departments for injuries from household appliances (cooking ranges and ovens, etc.) and kitchenware such as pots, pans, cutlery and small appliances during Thanksgiving compared to a typical Thursday between 2018 and 2022.
According to Sangameshwar, fires play a large role here. "The kitchen is the part of the home that has the most risk of catching fire, especially over Thanksgiving," she says. "With many of us preparing a feast of multiple dishes over several days, we often forget basic kitchen safety — like turning off the stove or oven — in our rush to get everything done."
This comes as many Americans forgo basic fire safety awareness or precautions. According to a 2021 ValuePenguin survey, 1 in 4 Americans don’t have a fire extinguisher and 2 in 3 hadn’t tested their smoke detectors in the past month at the time of the survey — two crucial tools in preventing and minimizing cooking fires.
Number of kitchen accidents resulting in emergency room visits during the Thanksgiving holiday compared to a typical day of the week, 2019 to 2021
Year | Thursday average | Thanksgiving Thursday | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2,000 | 4,127 | 106.4% |
| 2019 | 1,951 | 3,818 | 95.7% |
| 2020 | 1,772 | 4,846 | 173.5% |
| 2021 | 1,924 | 4,564 | 137.2% |
| 2022 | 1,774 | 3,458 | 94.9% |
| Average | 1,884 | 4,163 | 121.5% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data.
Across all years analyzed, 2020 saw the highest number of Thanksgiving cooking accidents. There were 4,846 accidents resulting in emergency department visits — 173.5% higher than the average on Thursdays that year.
Sangameshwar attributes the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns to the rise in emergency visits here. "More Americans were cooking at home for the first time," she says. "And while social media was filled with images of 'COVID cooking' like sourdough bread or cakes, it was also full of videos of home cooks responding to grease fires wrongly — demonstrating how many novice cooks lacked necessary fire skills."
Your Thanksgiving checklist: Expert tips on home and auto insurance
As you prepare for Thanksgiving this year, it may be helpful to have more than just your holiday grocery list on hand. In fact, Sangameshwar recommends having an insurance checklist, too.
For your home insurance, she recommends the following:
- Check if you’re covered for common holiday mishaps, such as cooking fires. Look for HO-2 or broad form coverage, which will cover you for most fire damage.
- Check your liability insurance coverage. "Tipsy house guests are accident-prone, and improperly prepared food can lead to food poisoning — which you can become liable for," Sangameshwar says. "It’s important to review your liability coverage to make sure you won’t be on the hook for damages and medical expenses."
- Find out if your state has social host liability. "43 states have some form of social host liability laws, which means you can be held responsible if a guest at your dinner got drunk and crashed their car," she says, citing Insurance Information Institute (III) data. "As a host, you should always ensure your guests leave safely, but that’s especially true in these states."
For your car insurance, she offers the following tips:
- Review your coverage before you hit the road. "It’s important to review your current auto insurance coverage to ensure you’re adequately covered before you hit the road," she says. "Having comprehensive and collision insurance will help if you get into a crash with an uninsured driver — or with a tree."
- Consider adding rental car reimbursement coverage to your auto insurance. If an accident happens and you can’t use your car to finish your trip, this will cover the rental car expenses you’ll incur.
- If you are renting a car, know what your insurance covers. "Most auto insurance policies provide equivalent coverage for a rental car that’s used for personal purposes," she says. "If you don’t have comprehensive or collision coverage or you’re renting a luxury vehicle that your insurer won’t cover, you can purchase a loss-damage waiver (LDW) from the rental company. If you’re worried about paying out of pocket for damage to your rental, you can also increase your insurance limits for a year. Stand-alone rental car insurance should be the last resort, as it can nearly double the cost of your rental."
Methodology
ValuePenguin researchers calculated the frequency of Thanksgiving holiday crash fatalities over the three most recent available years — 2019 through 2021 — at the national and state level using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
FARS calculates the Thanksgiving holiday period as 6 p.m. Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) to 6 a.m. Monday (after Thanksgiving weekend). We then compared figures in that Thanksgiving period to the average period for each year (or time frame). We used U.S. Census Bureau 2021 American Community Survey data with five-year estimates to determine statewide per-capita averages.
Next, we used the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to compare the number of people treated in emergency departments for cooking injuries on Thanksgiving Thursday to a regular Thursday each year from 2018 through 2022.
Cooking accidents include injuries from household appliances (cooking ranges and ovens, etc.) and kitchenware such as pots, pans, cutlery and small appliances.