More Than Half of Winter Road Deaths Involve Alcohol or Speeding

A new study from John Foy & Associates analyzing winter crash fatalities from 2019 to 2023 found that deadly winter driving is often less about the weather and more about human decisions behind the wheel. During winter months (December through March), 59,887 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes, and the study identifies two dominant, preventable drivers of fatal outcomes: alcohol impairment and speeding.

While winter weather contributes to risk, nearly 40% of weather-related crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy surfaces, with another 15% during active snowfall or sleet. The study’s behavioral findings show that winter’s most lethal pattern is not simply “bad roads.” It’s bad choices made on bad roads.

Alcohol Impairment: The Leading Contributor to Winter Crash Deaths

Across the five-year study period, 18,102 winter traffic fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. That’s roughly 30% of all winter traffic deaths. The study emphasizes that winter’s holiday season, especially December, creates a dangerous overlap between celebration, late-night travel, and impaired driving.

December alone accounted for 27% of alcohol-impaired winter fatalities, reinforcing why the month consistently ranks as the deadliest winter month overall. The data suggests that the “holiday driving season” is not just busy, it is uniquely risky because impaired driving increases at the same time the road environment becomes less forgiving.

Speeding: A Close Second That Turns Winter Crashes Deadly

Speeding was the second major contributor to winter fatalities. The study found 15,013 winter deaths involved speeding, accounting for about 25% of winter crash fatalities. Excessive speed is especially dangerous in winter because traction is unreliable and stopping distances increase dramatically on slick pavement. A mistake at 25 mph may be survivable; the same mistake at 65 mph in low-traction conditions can quickly become fatal.

The study notes that December again stood out: 28% of speeding-related winter fatalities occurred in December, consistent with the broader winter pattern where travel surges and risk-taking behavior rise at the same time.

Distracted Driving: Smaller Share, Still Thousands of Deaths

Distracted driving accounted for 4,768 winter fatalities, about 8% of winter traffic deaths. While lower than alcohol impairment and speeding, the study frames distraction as a persistent risk factor—one that may grow as vehicles and phones compete for driver attention.

December again led the winter months, recording nearly 28% of distracted driving fatalities, aligning with the broader pattern: more trips, more congestion, more stress, and more opportunities for attention to drift at the worst possible moment.

The Study’s Most Blunt Finding: Winter Deaths Are Largely Preventable

Taken together, alcohol impairment and speeding account for more than half of all winter crash fatalities in the study period. The study argues this is the most actionable takeaway for policymakers, law enforcement, and public health campaigns: winter driving safety can’t rely solely on “drive slow in snow” reminders. It must directly confront drunk driving and speeding as the primary winter killers.

Who Is Most Affected: Age Patterns Show Risk Clustering

The study also found that winter crash fatalities cluster in specific age groups. Adults ages 25–34 recorded the highest number of winter traffic deaths (11,213 fatalities), nearly 19% of the total. Adults ages 35–44 recorded 9,095 deaths (about 15%). Combined, ages 25–44 account for more than one-third of winter fatalities, highlighting how exposure to commuting, work travel, and family travel amplifies risk.

Older adults also face heavy winter losses. Ages 55–64 recorded 8,536 fatalities, and drivers 65–74 plus 75+ recorded a combined 11,671 deaths. The study notes that age-related factors such as reduced reaction time, vision changes, and increased fragility can worsen outcomes in winter crashes.

Younger drivers remain at risk as well. Ages 16–24 accounted for more than 9,400 winter fatalities, with inexperience navigating snow, ice, and reduced visibility potentially playing a role.

A Persistent Gender Gap: Men Make Up 71% of Winter Deaths

Across the study period, males accounted for 42,163 winter fatalities (71%), compared to 17,564 female fatalities (29%). The study attributes this disparity to a combination of higher exposure (more miles driven) and higher rates of risky driving behavior, particularly speeding and alcohol impairment.

The Takeaway: Winter Safety Is a Behavior Problem in a Weather Context

Winter weather makes roads less forgiving, but the study concludes that the most lethal winter crashes are driven by preventable behavior, especially drunk driving and speeding. With December consistently emerging as the most dangerous month and men representing the majority of fatalities, the findings suggest that targeted enforcement, risk-specific messaging, and seasonal prevention campaigns should focus first on the behaviors that dominate winter deaths, not just the conditions that surround them.