Revealing Michigan’s Deadliest Highway Holidays

Though each holiday rings a bit differently in Michigan, if it involves a day off, one thing they all share is our desire to get to our destination safely and as quickly as possible. No matter the occasion, we want to be 'there,' wherever 'there' may be. This mentality and tunnel vision can lead to traffic tie-ups and accidents on Michigan roadways, but is there one holiday in particular that is the most dangerous, or even deadly, for Michigan drivers?

Related: Deadly Drive: This Vehicle Leads Michigan in Fatal Crashes

A study conducted by the Omega Law Group analyzed fatal accident data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to see which of the main twelve holidays in the USA saw the most fatal accidents.

The Most Dangerous and Safest Holidays on Michigan Roads

What makes the Omega Law Group study unique is that it not only looks at fatal accident occurrences on the twelve major US holidays but also compares them to an average day in the same month, giving you an idea of how many more accidents occur when we are focused on our leisure destinations.

One of our family's most legendary holiday disaster stories is when my dad drove off with the gas pump still in the car at the corner of Jefferson and US 127 near Brooklyn, Michigan. That's a Thanksgiving that neither our family nor the gas station attendant will forget (no one was injured, other than my dad's ego, as he was called Gas Pump Scotty by his students at Columbia Central for years after that).

Of the twelve major holidays, the #1 and #2 most dangerous for Michigan drivers both traditionally include fireworks celebrations.

Related: 

Let's take a closer look at The Most Deadly (and Safest) Holidays In Michigan.