Descriptive data
From 1981-2016, 43,557 fatalities occurred during the 3-day Memorial Day weekend (n=15,292; 35%) and six corresponding comparison days. The average number of deaths per day during the holiday was 142, compared to 132 the week before (n=14,293) and 128 the week after (n=13,772). For the holiday, Saturday had the highest number of fatalities (n=6,053; 40%) while Monday (Memorial Day) had the lowest (n=4,104; 26%) (Table 1). By year group, 1986-1990 had the highest holiday fatality count (n=2,466; 16%) and 2006-2010 had the lowest (n=1,998; 13%), but overall counts were stable over time. The majority of fatalities for both holiday and comparison periods were adults and males. During the holiday, 11,745 (77%) of fatalities were adults and 10,879 (71%) were males. Most fatalities during Memorial Day weekend were drivers (n=8,971; 59%). Fatality counts were highest in the South (n=6,692; 44%). More fatalities during each period occurred in urban than rural areas (n=13,066; 85% vs. n=2,148; 15%).
Main results
The odds of a motor vehicle fatality occurring during Memorial Day weekend were 9% greater than during the comparison periods (OR:1.09, 95% CI: 1.07-1.12) (Table 2 and Figure 1). Compared to the non-holiday periods, the odds of fatality on Memorial Day was 18% higher (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12-1.23), and 8% greater on the holiday Saturday (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04-1.12). Analysis of 5-year categories showed they all had increased odds of fatality during Memorial Day weekend versus comparison days.
Table 1. Characteristics of Individuals Involved in Fatal Crashes during the Memorial Day Weekends
|
N (%) 1
|
|
|
Holiday Period
|
Comparison Days
|
P-value 2
|
|
15,292 (35)
|
28,065 (65)
|
|
Day of week
|
|
|
<.001
|
Saturday
|
6,053 (40)
|
11,222 (40)
|
|
Sunday
|
5,135 (34)
|
9,882 (35)
|
|
Monday
|
4,104 (26)
|
6,961 (25)
|
|
Year groups 3
|
|
|
<.001
|
1981-1985
|
2,299 (15)
|
4,309 (15)
|
|
1986-1990
|
2,466 (16)
|
4,560 (16)
|
|
1991-1995
|
2,079 (14)
|
3,865 (14)
|
|
1996-2000
|
2,090 (14)
|
3,871 (14)
|
|
2001-2005
|
2,238 (15)
|
4,019 (14)
|
|
2006-2010
|
1,998 (13)
|
3,614 (13)
|
|
2011-2016
|
2,122 (14)
|
3,827 (14)
|
|
Age
|
|
|
<.001
|
<18 y
|
1,885 (12)
|
3,425 (12)
|
|
18-64 y
|
11,745 (77)
|
21,215 (76)
|
|
>65 y
|
1,662 (11)
|
3,425 (12)
|
|
Sex
|
|
|
<.001
|
Male
|
10,879 (71)
|
20,011 (71)
|
|
Female
|
4,405 (29)
|
8,023 (29)
|
|
Unknown/Not reported
|
8
|
31
|
|
Role
|
|
|
<.001
|
Driver
|
8,971 (59)
|
17,087 (61)
|
|
Passenger
|
4,453 (29)
|
7,214 (26)
|
|
Pedestrian/Other
|
1,868 (12)
|
3,764 (13)
|
|
Region
|
|
|
<.001
|
Midwest
|
3,327 (21)
|
6,030 (21)
|
|
Northeast
|
2,057 (13)
|
3,544 (13)
|
|
South
|
6,692 (44)
|
12,523 (45)
|
|
West
|
3,216 (21)
|
5,968 (21)
|
|
Location
|
|
|
<.001
|
Rural
|
2,148 (14)
|
3,768 (13)
|
|
Urban
|
13,066 (85)
|
24,136 (86)
|
|
Unknown
|
78
|
161
|
|
1 Missing values and unknowns are not represented in the percentages.
2 The statistical significance was defined as p<0.05.
3 The year group of “2011-2016” has 6 rather than 5 years.
Table 2. Odds Ratio and 95% CI for Motor Vehicle Fatalities during Memorial Day Weekends
|
OR*
|
95% CI*
|
p-value 1
|
Total fatalities
|
1.09
|
1.07, 1.12
|
<0.001
|
Day of week
|
|
|
|
Saturday
|
1.08
|
1.04, 1.12
|
<0.001
|
Sunday
|
1.04
|
1.00, 1.08
|
0.052
|
Monday
|
1.18
|
1.13, 1.23
|
<0.001
|
Year groups
|
|
|
|
1981-1985
|
1.07
|
1.01, 1.13
|
0.030
|
1986-1990
|
1.08
|
1.02, 1.15
|
0.007
|
1991-1995
|
1.08
|
1.01, 1.14
|
0.021
|
1996-2000
|
1.08
|
1.02, 1.15
|
0.015
|
2001-2005
|
1.11
|
1.05, 1.18
|
0.001
|
2006-2010
|
1.11
|
1.04, 1.18
|
0.002
|
2011-2016 3
|
1.11
|
1.04, 1.18
|
0.001
|
Age
|
|
|
|
<18 y
|
1.10
|
1.03, 1.18
|
0.004
|
18-64 y
|
1.11
|
1.08, 1.14
|
<0.001
|
>65 y
|
0.97
|
0.91, 1.04
|
0.385
|
Sex
|
|
|
|
Male
|
1.09
|
1.06, 1.12
|
<0.001
|
Female
|
1.10
|
1.05, 1.15
|
<0.001
|
Role
|
|
|
|
Driver
|
1.05
|
1.02, 1.08
|
0.001
|
Passenger
|
1.23
|
1.18, 1.29
|
<0.001
|
Pedestrian/Other
|
0.99
|
0.93, 1.06
|
0.819
|
Region
|
|
|
|
Midwest
|
1.10
|
1.05, 1.16
|
<0.001
|
Northeast
|
1.16
|
1.09, 1.24
|
<0.001
|
South
|
1.07
|
1.03, 1.11
|
<0.001
|
West
|
1.08
|
1.03, 1.13
|
<0.001
|
Location
|
|
|
|
Rural
|
1.14
|
1.07, 1.21
|
<0.001
|
Urban
|
1.08
|
1.06, 1.11
|
<0.001
|
1 The statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. Statistically significant p-values are bolded.
2 We regard p-value=0.05 as marginally statistical significance.
3 The final year grouping (2011-2016) has 6 rather than 5 years.
* OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval. The referent group is fatalities during control days.
Odds of traffic fatalities differed by demographics. Adults aged 18-64 experienced 11% higher odds (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.08-1.14) and individual younger than 18 and 10% higher odds of traffic fatalities during the Memorial Day weekend (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03-1.18). Females had 10% increased odds (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.05-1.15), and males had 9% increased odds of crash-related fatalities during Memorial Day weekend compared to control days (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.06-1.12). Odds of holiday traffic fatalities also differed by role with passengers 17% more likely (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18-1.29) and drivers 5% more likely (or: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.02-1.08).
Geographically, people in the Northeast experienced 16% increased odds of fatality during the Memorial Day weekend compared with control days (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.24). Regarding the crash location, the odds of the fatality on rural areas had 14% greater than the control days (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07-1.21), and an 8% increase in urban areas (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.06-1.11).