Texas Car Crashes Spike More Than 20% Around the Holidays

More Texans crash their cars during the holiday season than any other time of the year, according to an Allstate Insurance Company review of its claims data over the five year period between 2006 and 2010. The number of auto accident claims jumped the highest on December 24, spiking 22 percent compared to the daily average during the rest of the year. Accident claims jumped 21 percent on December 18 and 18 percent on December 1 and 11.

“The increase in crashes could be related to more people being on the roads traveling and shopping during the holidays, weather changes and other distractions,” said Carlos Cuellar, an Allstate agency owner in San Antonio. “What’s important for drivers is that we stay focused while at the wheel whether on the highway or in the driveway—during December and every other time of the year.”

According to Allstate, the top five days for collision claims in Texas are:

December 24

December 18

April 7

December 1

December 11

Allstate looked at its Texas auto insurance accident claims from 2006 through 2010 to determine daily claim counts and the average number of claims for each day. The company, the country’s second largest auto insurance provider, used the data to reveal days when automobile insurance accident claims are most prevalent.

SOURCE: Allstate Insurance Company – Texas Region