INDIANA — As Hoosiers prepare for holiday travel and office parties, new federal data analysis has highlighted a sobering reality: December 23 is consistently one of the deadliest days on U.S. roads. While many turn to rideshare services like Uber and Lyft to avoid drunk driving, safety advocates warn that these platforms are operating in a “black box” regarding holiday-specific risk.
According to a long-term analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, December 23 ranks as one of the four deadliest days on American roads across nearly three decades. Between 2019 and 2023, it was identified as the single deadliest day for drunk-driving crashes during the Christmas week.
The surge in risk coincides with peak holiday travel and a high volume of office parties. In December 2022 alone, 1,062 people died in drunk-driving crashes nationwide—the highest December toll in 15 years.
Indiana’s Deadly December Trend
Indiana roads are particularly high-risk during the holiday season. Recent studies have found that Indiana leads the nation in the share of speeding-related fatalities occurring in December.
- Speeding Risk: Roughly 42.5% of Indiana’s annual speeding fatalities occur in December—a rate nearly four times higher than the national average.
- Fatalities: Indiana averages approximately 15 speeding deaths and dozens of alcohol-impaired fatalities during the month of December each year.
- The December 23 Toll: While daily counts vary, federal and state data indicate that Indiana typically sees a sharp spike in fatal accidents on this specific date as travelers cross the “Crossroads of America.”
The Rideshare “Black Box”
Rideshare companies market themselves as the safe alternative to impaired driving, but recent court records and safety reports have drawn a different picture.
Newly unsealed records show that Uber received 400,181 sexual misconduct complaints between 2017 and 2022—averaging one report every eight minutes. Despite this, only a small fraction (roughly 12,500) were disclosed to the public. Furthermore, Uber’s motor vehicle fatalities jumped 40% between the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 periods.
Safety Crisis in Numbers (2018–2023)
| Category | National Statistic | Rideshare Specifics |
| Dec. 23 (Christmas Week) | Deadliest drunk-driving day | 0 day-specific safety stats released |
| Dec. 2022 Drunk Driving | 1,062 deaths (15-year high) | No December-specific data disclosed |
| Sexual Misconduct | 4,900+ deaths (Dec. 2019-23) | 400,181 Uber complaints (2017-22) |
| Fatal Crash Rate | 30% of all traffic deaths (2023) | +40% increase in Uber fatalities |
With December 23, 2025, just days away, safety experts are urging Hoosiers to remain vigilant. If you use a rideshare service, verify your driver’s identity, share your trip status with a friend, and never get into a vehicle that doesn’t match the app description.
