7 Driving Mistakes That Could Cost You Much More Over Labor Day Weekend

September 3, 2026

Labor Day weekend can transform an ordinary drive into an endurance event. Highways fill with vacation traffic, drivers hurry to reach the lake house before dinner, and somebody inevitably decides the speed limit looks more like a friendly suggestion. Those choices can cost far more than a few extra minutes on the road, especially as law enforcement increases patrols for the holiday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched its 2026 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign ahead of the holiday, with increased enforcement running from Aug. 19 through Labor Day. NHTSA continues to focus on impaired driving, speeding, distraction and seat belt use because those behaviors can turn a routine trip into a crash, a citation, an insurance headache or something much worse.

1. Treating the Speed Limit Like a Starting Point

Speeding can feel harmless when traffic flows quickly, but extra speed leaves less room to react when something goes wrong. A vehicle can cover a surprising amount of pavement in just a few seconds, and a sudden lane change, stopped car or pedestrian can erase that comfortable cushion instantly. NHTSA’s 2026 messaging specifically highlights speeding as a factor in nearly one-third of traffic deaths, making it much more than a minor traffic-law issue.

The financial consequences can pile up, too, because a speeding ticket can bring fines, court costs and higher insurance premiums depending on the violation and the driver’s record. Holiday traffic creates another problem because impatient drivers often change lanes aggressively or follow too closely while trying to make up time. The smarter move involves leaving earlier, accepting the pace of traffic and treating the posted limit as an actual limit rather than a challenge.

2. Assuming One Drink Won’t Matter

A Labor Day cookout can make a car ride home seem like the most ordinary part of the evening, which makes impaired driving particularly dangerous. Alcohol can affect judgment, coordination and reaction time before a driver realizes that driving ability has changed. NHTSA reports that alcohol-impaired crashes killed 11,904 people in 2024, and the agency notes that one person died every 44 minutes in an alcohol-impaired-driving crash that year.

The safest plan starts before the first drink, not after the party winds down. Designating a sober driver, arranging a ride or staying where the gathering takes place removes the temptation to make a questionable judgment at the end of the night. The same rule applies to marijuana and other impairing drugs, including medications that can affect alertness or driving ability.

3. Checking a Phone at the Worst Possible Moment

A phone notification can feel urgent until it meets a two-ton vehicle traveling at highway speed. Looking down to read a text, change a song, or check directions takes attention away from traffic precisely when traffic can change. A driver who reaches for the phone also loses precious visual awareness, even if the glance lasts only a moment.

Holiday traffic gives distracted driving even less room for error because congestion produces sudden braking, lane changes and merging vehicles. Set the navigation route before leaving, silence unnecessary notifications and keep the phone somewhere that does not invite casual grabbing. If something genuinely needs attention, pulling into a safe location beats trying to multitask behind the wheel every time.

4. Skipping the Seat Belt Because the Trip Is Short

The driveway-to-grocery-store mentality can sneak into holiday travel, especially when someone climbs into the back seat for a quick ride down the road. That shortcut makes little sense because crashes do not care whether the destination sits five minutes away or five hours away. NHTSA continues to emphasize seat belt use, and the agency reports that unbelted occupants accounted for a passenger-vehicle death every 54 minutes in 2024.

Everyone in the vehicle needs to buckle up before the car moves, including passengers sitting in the rear. Parents and caregivers should also check that children use the appropriate car seat or booster and that the restraint fits correctly. NHTSA has also finalized stronger seat belt reminder requirements, with enhanced front-seat warning requirements beginning for new vehicles on September 1, 2026.

5. Driving Like the Road Belongs to One Vehicle

Heavy holiday traffic can turn otherwise sensible drivers into lane-changing opportunists. Cutting between cars, following too closely, or squeezing into tiny gaps might save a few minutes, but those moves can leave virtually no margin when another driver brakes suddenly. Aggressive driving also raises the chance that a small traffic mistake turns into a crash.

A better approach involves leaving more following distance and giving other drivers room to merge. That extra space might feel unnecessary when traffic moves smoothly, but it becomes valuable the instant someone brakes hard or misses an exit. Arriving a few minutes later beats arriving with a damaged bumper, a police report, and a very different Labor Day story.

6. Ignoring Signs of Driver Fatigue

Long weekend trips often encourage drivers to stretch the journey because stopping feels inconvenient. Fatigue can quietly erode attention and reaction time, leaving a driver less prepared to deal with changing traffic or unexpected hazards. NHTSA lists drowsy driving among its major roadway safety concerns, alongside impaired, distracted, and speeding-related driving.

A driver who struggles to stay alert should not treat coffee, loud music, or an open window as a magic reset button. Taking a real break, switching drivers when possible or finding a safe place to rest offers a much better solution. The moment the trip starts feeling like a battle to keep the eyes open, the schedule needs to change.

7. Assuming Traffic Laws Matter Less on a Holiday Weekend

A holiday weekend does not create a temporary loophole for ordinary traffic laws. In fact, NHTSA’s current Labor Day campaign specifically warns drivers that increased law enforcement will target impaired driving during the holiday period.

That means a driver should expect the same basic responsibilities on a packed holiday highway as on an ordinary Tuesday morning. Follow posted speed limits, buckle every passenger, stay focused, drive sober, and give other vehicles room to move. Those habits cost nothing, take little effort, and can prevent a weekend getaway from becoming an expensive lesson.

The Cheapest Labor Day Upgrade Costs Nothing

The easiest way to protect a holiday budget involves making better decisions before the vehicle leaves the driveway. A speeding ticket, impaired-driving charge, crash, insurance increase, or costly repair can overwhelm the savings from an entire weekend of careful planning. NHTSA’s current safety campaign puts the biggest risks in plain view: impairment, speeding, distraction, and failure to use seat belts all deserve serious attention.

A safer trip also tends to be a calmer trip because nobody needs to race the clock, wrestle with a phone, or wonder whether another driver will make it home safely. Build extra time into the itinerary, decide who will drive before drinking begins, and make the seat belt click before putting the car in gear.

What driving mistake do you think causes the most trouble during holiday weekends? We want to hear your stories, opinions, and driving advice below.