Record Memorial Day travel could mean more distracted driving

AAA projects a record number of travelers over Memorial Day weekend, with 45 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home. 

This includes 39.1 million people traveling by car and 3.66 million expected to fly. 

Those opting to drive are slightly more than last year, AAA says. It remains the most popular way to travel, with 87% of Memorial Day travelers choosing it. 

However, drivers will pay more for fuel this year, with a gallon of regular gasoline at $3.17. The release states that prices are at their highest since the summer of 2022. 

“With a record number of travelers on the road this holiday weekend, AAA reminds drivers to put safety first, Slow Down, Move Over, and drive sober,” the release states. “Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA responded to more than 350,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.”

Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) data from 2023 to 2025 shows that the largest spikes of distracted driving and speeding happen in the afternoon on Memorial Day. 

“We also examined the full holiday weekend and found that speeding builds on Friday and Saturday before peaking on Memorial Day, while distraction remains relatively steady until Monday,” a CMT release states. 

CMT defines distraction as phone screen tapping while driving above 9 mph and speeding as driving 9.3 mph over the speed limit for at least 300 feet. 

Distracted driving spikes in the afternoon, up 12% at 4 p.m. on Memorial Day versus the same time on similar Mondays. 

Overall distraction is up 7.3% versus similar Mondays. The increase starts (8.3%) between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. as travelers set out. 

“By late morning, distraction continues to rise, increasing from 1 minute and 44 seconds to 1 minute and 51 seconds per driving hour between 10 a.m. and noon — a 7% increase,” the release states. “The most pronounced spike comes between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., when distraction jumps 12.2% — as drivers head home, coordinate plans after the long weekend, or potentially lose focus after long stretches on the road.”

Speeding surges 72% in the afternoon on Memorial with an overall average up 29%. It adds speeding increases from 2 minutes and 16 seconds to 2 minutes and 55 seconds per driving hour. 

By 7 a.m., speeding is more than double typical levels or 100% above average. By mid-morning, from 10 a.m. to noon, speeding is up 46% and rises from 1 minute and 33 seconds to 2 minutes and 16 seconds per driving hour. 

“The riskiest part of the day comes between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., when speeding spikes 72% above normal — alongside a 12% increase in distraction — as returning travelers push to get home before evening,” the release states. 

Speeding is also elevated on Friday through Sunday. Yet, distraction remains relatively steady. 

“On Friday, speeding rises 5.5% overall, with the sharpest increase between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., peaking at 10.8% at 5 p.m. as drivers begin their holiday travel,” the release states. “Saturday follows a similar pattern, with speeding up 5.8% overall and elevated throughout the day, including a 7.1% increase at 2 p.m.”

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Feature photo courtesy of igoriss/iStock

Total Memorial Day drivers image courtesy of AAA. 

Distracted driving and speeding graphs courtesy of CMT.