A new national study by John Foy & Associates finds that 66% of fatal U.S. crashes in 2023 involved one of three preventable behaviors: alcohol impairment, speeding, or distraction. Layered on top of seasonal patterns, October’s unexpected rise to the deadliest month, spring break surges, and summer holiday spikes, the results point to a predictable calendar of danger that can be addressed with targeted, evidence-based interventions.
In 2023, the U.S. recorded 37,654 fatal crashes, 40,901 deaths, and 2.6+ million injuries. The analysis of NHTSA data shows:
- Alcohol was the key factor in 30% of monthly crash fatalities, with 11,222 crashes involving BAC ≥ 0.08. July was the single worst month for alcohol-related deaths (1,065).
- Speed contributed to 10,541 fatal crashes nationwide, peaking in July (1,014), May (973), and August (971), with the lowest count in February (718).
- Distraction caused 3,041 fatal crashes, spiking in May (299), July (291), and August (285)—and easing in January (192) and February (202).
“Fatal crashes don’t just ‘happen’; they cluster around choices, often at predictable times of year,” said a spokesperson from John Foy & Associates. “If we calibrate enforcement, infrastructure, and messaging to the clock, spring break, summer holidays, back-to-school, and October’s early darkness, lives will be saved.”
The Calendar of Risk
- Spring Break (March): National crash totals run about 9% above winter averages, with Florida logging 72 alcohol-related fatalities in March—among its highest monthly tallies. California and Texas also saw above-average March fatalities, pointing to tourism and youth travel dynamics.
- Summer (June–August): Highest speed and alcohol risk as road trips, heat-related fatigue, and large gatherings compound exposure.
- October: Now the deadliest month overall (3,505 fatal crashes)—driven by diminishing daylight, evening-commute visibility issues, wet leaves/first rains, and dense fall event calendars. California alone recorded 361 speeding-related deaths in October, the highest monthly toll for any state.
Texas: A Notable Outlier
Texas led the nation in both alcohol-impaired (1,510 deaths) and speeding-related (1,219 deaths) fatalities in 2023. August was Texas’s deadliest month, with 141 alcohol-related and 349 speeding fatalities—nearly one-quarter of the state’s annual traffic deaths in a single month. Extreme heat, congested corridors, and end-of-summer travel are cited as contributing factors.
The Financial Toll
The U.S. economic impact of crashes exceeds $340 billion annually, according to federal estimates, costs borne by families, employers, insurers, and taxpayers. Because two-thirds of fatal crashes involve preventable behaviors, savings are achievable with strategic timing:
- High-visibility DUI campaigns during summer holidays and October weekends.
- Automated and targeted speed management across late spring and summer corridors.
- Hands-free enforcement and public campaigns synced with back-to-school and summer travel.
“We can’t arrest our way to zero, but we can schedule our way to fewer funerals,” said a spokesperson from the firm. “Aligning policy to predictable spikes, especially October’s, will deliver outsized returns.”
