The Most Dangerous Roads During Thanksgiving

What’s Cooking? A Recipe for Risky Roads

#2. Fatalities Are on the Rise—Yikes!

Between 2005 and 2011, there was hope on the horizon with a steady drop in road fatalities. But the brakes have screeched to a halt, and since then, fatalities have increased by nearly 38%. What’s driving this backward trend? Maybe it’s distracted driving, failing infrastructure, or just plain old bad luck. Whatever the reason, the numbers don’t lie, and it’s a sobering reminder to stay extra alert.

#3. The Top Danger Zones Are Where You Least Expect Them

Sure, you’d think the melee of drivers around big cities would make metro areas Thanksgiving’s traffic nightmare. And while that’s partially true, some of the most dangerous roads are actually outside of sprawling urban zones. Yes, you read that right. Four of the top 10 deadliest roads are in counties with fewer than 500,000 residents. Apparently, long open highways can be just as perilous as gridlocked city streets.

Here’s the Rogues’ Gallery of Thanksgiving’s Most Dangerous Roads (2003–2022):

1. I-15 in San Bernardino County, CA : 11 (population: 2.19M )
2. SR-85 in Okaloosa County, FL : 10 (population: 216k)
3. I-15 in Riverside County, CA: 10 (population: 2.47M)
4. I-10 in Maricopa County, AZ: 10 (population: 4.56M)
5. I-5 in Los Angeles County, CA: 10 (population: 9.72M)
6. I-605 in Los Angeles County, CA: 10 (population: 9.72M)
7. I-10 in Ascension Parish County, LA: 9 (population: 130k)
8. SR-91 in Indian River County, FL: 9 (population: 167k)
9. I-8 in Imperial County County, CA : 9 (population: 179k)
10. US-1 in Brevard County, FL: 9 (population: 631k)

#4. West Virginia and Mississippi Are Counting Too Many Crosses

California, Texas, and Florida may top the charts for total driving fatalities, but if we’re talking per capita, West Virginia and Mississippi take the (cornbread) cake. Fatalities in these states are nearly 50% higher than anywhere else. Seem high? Same.

Staying Alive (And Serving Side-Eye)

We get it. You just want to get to Aunt Karen’s green bean casserole without a side of road drama. Here are some tips to help keep your sassy self safe this Thanksgiving:

• Plan Ahead: Map your route early to avoid dodgy roads. Yes, that means no last-minute Waze detours into the bermuda triangle of sketchy highways.
• Don’t Scamper on Sleep: Tryptophan is for turkeys, not drivers. Rest up before you hit the road to avoid nodding off.
• Designate a Driver: If your Thanksgiving involves cocktails, crown a sober superstar to keep everyone safe. No shame in that sparkling cider life.

Bringing the Data to the Table

For those of you who love a good deep-dive into numbers, all these stats come courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and trusty U.S. Census Bureau population data. And just so we’re clear, we’re talking about the Thanksgiving holiday period from the Wednesday before Turkey Day right through to Sunday. (Basically, any day you think is appropriate for stuffing leftovers is included.)

Remember, your road trip playlist doesn’t need to include drama or danger. Play it safe, avoid the sketchy highways, and enjoy your turkey—and maybe even a victory slice of pecan pie.

Stay safe, stay fierce, and keep that steering wheel steady. Happy Thanksgiving, wanderlust warriors!

This article was originally written by Kyle Fretwell for TruckInfo.net and published on Stacker.com. It has been edited by the fagabond team for fagabond.com.

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