Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) analyses on distracted driving surges continue to show the top two are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

In 2023, Christmas fell on a Monday, so in its analysis for the year, CMT compared Christmas distraction to the Mondays before and after Christmas to better account for daily driving trends. CMT defines distracted driving as any interaction with a phone screen while a vehicle is moving at over 9 mph.

On Mondays around Christmas, drivers typically spend an average of 2 minutes and 3 seconds per hour interacting with their phones behind the wheel. However, on Christmas Day, the amount of time jumped to 2 minutes and 27 seconds per hour — a 19.4% increase.

“The consequences of these increases in distraction are severe,” CMT wrote in a Dec. 12 press release. “CMT’s research indicates that a 10% rise in distracted driving correlates with a 1.5% increase in severe injuries and fatalities. For 2023 alone, this means that the 19.4% surge in distraction was responsible for an additional 650 crashes, 360 severe injuries, three fatalities, and $26 million in economic damages.”

New Year’s Day, also on a Monday in 2024, shows similar patterns. On the Mondays surrounding New Year’s, screen interaction averaged 2 minutes and 3 seconds per hour. On New Year’s Day, distraction rose by 16.4% to 2 minutes and 24 seconds, making it the third most distracted day of the year compared to 2023 figures, CMT wrote.

“Since 2020, every Christmas Day has ranked among the 100 most distracted days in the past five years, with none recording less than 2 minutes and 27 seconds of screen interaction per hour,” CMT wrote. “Similarly, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day show significant distraction-related impacts every year.

Compared to the surrounding Mondays, CMT noticed a distinct trend in screen interaction on Christmas Day. Beginning at 4 a.m., there is 33% more distraction on Christmas than on a typical holiday Monday. Distraction rises from there, reaching a 20% difference at 9 a.m.

“These patterns could reflect the excitement of early holiday activities, such as families traveling to spend Christmas morning together,” CMT wrote. “After this peak, screen interaction stabilizes on Christmas Day at 2 minutes and 30 seconds until 7 p.m. On a typical Monday, distraction rises throughout rush hour and it briefly overtakes the distraction on Christmas Day. By 10 p.m., however, Christmas Day distraction is again higher than the typical Monday by 5%, perhaps due to post-celebration holiday travel.”

New Year’s Day shows its own unique distraction patterns throughout the day, CMT added.

Distraction levels on New Year’s Day hit their largest gap at 3 a.m., which CMT says is 42% higher than on a typical early Monday morning. By 4 a.m., it’s about the same difference at 41.7% higher. These gaps are likely due to people finishing their New Year’s Eve parties and traveling home, CMT wrote.

By 6 a.m., distraction falls below normal Monday levels and by 10 a.m., screen use increases sharply to a 14% difference then spreads the gap to 17.6% by noon.

“These times align with when friends and family have New Year’s Day brunch,” CMT wrote. “At 5 p.m., distraction climbs even higher, reaching 18.2%. It remains elevated throughout the evening.

“The holidays bring joy, connection, and celebration but also an alarming rise in distracted driving. Both Christmas and New Year’s Day show clear patterns of increased phone use behind the wheel with screen interaction peaking during times of travel, gatherings, and holiday activities.”

AAA projects holiday travel will reach record levels this holiday season with 119.3 million people planning to travel 50 miles or more from home between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1.

This year’s domestic travel projection narrowly surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers. AAA expects an additional 3 million travelers this holiday season compared to last year.

“This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that,” said Stacey Barber, AAA Travel vice president, in a press release. “This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we’re anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday.”

Nearly 90% of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations, making it the most popular way to travel.

AAA says 107 million people are expected to travel by car, and while that number is 2.5 million higher than last year, it’s shy of 2019’s record of 108 million.

“Many travelers, particularly families with young children, prefer the flexibility and lower cost that road trips provide,” AAA said. “This holiday season, gas prices are lower than last year, when the national average was around $3.12 in the last two weeks of 2023. Gas demand in December goes down as the weather gets colder, more people work remotely, and holiday shoppers purchase their gifts online versus in person.”

AAA car rental partner Hertz says Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the holidays, according to the release. The busiest car pickup days are expected to be Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. AAA says the busiest time for rental returns is expected to be the weekend and Monday after Christmas. The average length of rental is one week.

AAA expects air travel to set a new record this holiday season with 7.85 million passengers. That number surpasses the previous record of 7.5 million air travelers last year. AAA booking data shows flights are 4% more expensive this holiday season compared to last year. The average domestic ticket is $830. International flights are 13% more expensive, averaging $1,630 a ticket.

The number of Americans traveling by bus, train, and cruise this holiday season is up nearly 10% compared to last year. AAA expects 4.47 million people will travel by modes other than car and plane, which is the highest it’s been in 20 years. Domestic cruise bookings are up 37% compared to last holiday season.

AAA noted that INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects drivers to experience the worst traffic delays the weekends before Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The holidays themselves are expected to have minimal congestion.

Drivers in Boston, New York City, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. could see double the typical delays. Nationwide, travel times could be up to 30% longer.

“With a near record number of auto travelers expected this holiday season, drivers should expect delays in and around major metro areas, with Sunday, December 22 expected to be the nation’s worst day to travel,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, in the release. “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours during the week. If schedules allow, leave bright and early or after the evening commute.”

For further information on holiday travel from AAA including peak congestion times, safe driving tips, and weather forecast, click here.

Images

Featured image and bar chart provided by Cambridge Mobile Telematics