Independence Day averages 119 deadly crashes nationally — the highest fatal crash rate of any calendar day in America, according to a 10-year analysis of federal crash data cited by Geotab. A new state-level risk index now puts a finer point on that statistic, and the results should give you pause before turning the key. South Carolina ranks as the most dangerous state to drive in on or around July 4th, according to Wheels Away’s newly compiled Road Risk Index. A holiday synonymous with backyard grills and bottle rockets also happens to be the single deadliest day to be behind a wheel in this country.
Where the Risk Is Worst
A new six-metric index scores all 50 states, and the results reveal a troubling pattern of overlapping dangers.
Fireworks end. Events empty out. Thousands of drivers flood the same roads within a two-hour window — many after drinking. That compressed exodus, which reads like last call at a stadium bar, is what automotive specialist Luke Oswald of Wheels Away identifies as the critical danger period. His team’s July 4th Road Risk Index scores every state on fatality rates, alcohol involvement, seat belt use, uninsured driver rates, and Google search volumes for “DUI lawyer” and “July 4th car accident.” Planning a life on the road this holiday season means understanding where these risks are concentrated.
- South Carolina scores 5.68 out of 10 — highest overall. Its 19.5 road deaths per 100,000 residents is nearly four times the rate in Massachusetts (4.9), according to IIHS data.
- Nevada ranks second (4.98), driven by 179.1 DUI lawyer searches per 100,000 residents — the highest rate in the nation.
- Montana takes third (4.86), pulled upward by just 81% seat-belt compliance, which is among the lowest nationally.
- Wyoming and Mississippi represent the index’s extreme outliers: Wyoming carries the highest raw fatality rate of any state at 24.7 deaths per 100,000, while Mississippi pairs a 24.9 fatality rate with a 22.2% uninsured driver rate, second-highest in the country.
Alcohol, Behavior, and the Numbers Behind the Danger
Nearly half of all fatal July 4th crashes involve impaired drivers, and some states outside the top ten carry equally alarming alcohol figures.
Nationally, 47% of fatal Independence Day crashes involve alcohol-impaired drivers, per Geotab’s analysis. South Carolina sits at 39%. Texas — ranked only 16th overall in the index — carries 40% alcohol involvement in fatal crashes, the highest rate among mainland states, according to IIHS/FARS 2023 data. The index’s inclusion of Google search volume for “DUI lawyer” adds a behavioral signal most rankings miss entirely.
More than 60 million Americans travel by car during July 4th week, according to AAA. The National Safety Council projects 400-plus road deaths during the holiday period in a given year. At that volume, even modest differences in state-level risk factors translate into significant consequences. South Dakota logs the highest search rate for “July 4th car accident” among the top ten states, at 4.24 per 100,000 residents — a behavioral signal that aligns with its elevated overall score.
High fatality rates, alcohol involvement, low seat belt use, and uninsured drivers consistently cluster in the same states. Drivers heading into South Carolina, Nevada, or Montana this holiday are already navigating the index’s highest-risk combination of factors. Locking in a designated driver or ride-share before the fireworks start is the single most effective step toward getting home safely.
