What are the Riskiest Times for U.S. Drivers?
Study reveals October, Saturdays, and 6 PM as the deadliest times for U.S. drivers. Awareness can save lives! Learn key safety tips and trends now.
December 2, 2024
With an average of 3,119.51 fatalities per month and 102.56 daily in the U.S., the study underscores the critical need for both individual and community efforts to improve road safety.
Photo: Work Truck
5 min to read
A new study analyzing a decade of crash data from the Department of Transportation’s Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) highlights the most hazardous times for drivers across the United States.
Conducted by the Dallas-based personal injury firm The Barber Law Firm, the study sheds light on how timing and conditions significantly impact road safety.
Key Findings at a Glance
Riskiest Month: October, with 34,877 fatalities (9.32% of total car crash deaths from 2013-2022).
Riskiest Day: Saturday, with 66,058 fatalities (17.65% of total deaths).
Riskiest Hour: 6:00 - 6:59 PM, with 21,762 fatalities (5.86% of total deaths).
Unpredictable weather, increased wildlife activity, Halloween celebrations, and back-to-school traffic make October the deadliest month for drivers.
Saturdays, often packed with leisure activities and errands, see heightened traffic volumes and risks. Meanwhile, the congestion of evening rush hour makes 6:00 - 6:59 PM the most perilous time to be on the road.
Top Riskiest Periods for Drivers
Time Period | Riskiest Time | Fatal Crashes | % of Total Fatal Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
Month | October | 34,877 | 9.32% |
Day | Saturday | 66,058 | 17.65% |
Hour | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 21,762 | 5.86% |
Kris Barber, Founder and Principal Attorney of The Barber Law Firm, emphasized the importance of awareness and preparation: “Drivers can enhance their safety by being aware of high-risk times. By using navigation apps to find less congested routes, staying updated on weather conditions, and maintaining safe distances from other vehicles, drivers can reduce their risk. An informed and cautious approach helps create safer roads for everyone.”
Additional Risky Driving Insights and Extrapolations
Regional Variations in Risks:
States like Alaska and Idaho see summer months like July as the most dangerous, reflecting increased tourism and outdoor activity. In contrast, states like Florida have December as the riskiest month, likely due to holiday travel.Evening Rush Hour Reigns Supreme:
Across nearly all states, evening hours between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM are consistently the most dangerous, reflecting the challenges of rush-hour traffic combined with reduced visibility.Saturday Dominance:
Saturday appears as the riskiest day nationwide, suggesting a trend toward leisure and errand-based travel patterns leading to heightened risks.Unusual Trends:
Delaware has two months tied as the riskiest: September and October, potentially reflecting a mix of back-to-school traffic and early holiday preparations.
Hawaii and Alaska both experience spikes in accidents during early evening hours (5:00-6:00 PM), suggesting a unique pattern linked to shorter daylight hours.
The Full Look at State-by-State Risky Driving
State | Riskiest Month for Drivers | % of Accidents Occurred in the Riskiest Month | Riskiest Day for Drivers | % of Accidents Occurred on the Riskiest Day | Riskiest Time for Drivers | % of Accidents Occurred in the Riskiest Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States | October | 9.32% | Saturday | 17.65% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 5.86% |
Alabama | October | 9.46% | Saturday | 17.74% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 5.78% |
Alaska | July | 13.29% | Saturday | 16.92% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 7.60% |
Arizona | October | 8.98% | Saturday | 18.21% | 8:00 - 8:59 PM | 6.90% |
Arkansas | June | 9.93% | Saturday | 16.42% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 6.45% |
California | October | 9.20% | Saturday | 17.53% | 8:00 - 8:59 PM | 6.31% |
Colorado | August | 11.02% | Saturday | 18.05% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 6.53% |
Connecticut | August | 9.96% | Saturday | 19.09% | 7:00 - 7:59 PM | 6.44% |
Delaware | September and October | 10.97% | Saturday | 18.49% | 9:00 - 9:59 PM | 7.13% |
District of Columbia | October | 10.45% | Friday | 19.86% | 11:00 - 11:59 PM | 9.06% |
Florida | December | 9.65% | Saturday | 17.72% | 9:00 - 9:59 PM | 6.87% |
Georgia | October | 9.40% | Saturday | 17.59% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 5.73% |
Hawaii | January | 11.09% | Saturday | 19.00% | 8:00 - 8:59 PM | 7.62% |
Idaho | July | 12.45% | Saturday | 18.43% | 4:00 - 4:59 PM | 7.65% |
Illinois | August | 9.84% | Saturday | 18.57% | 3:00 - 3:59 PM | 5.52% |
Indiana | October | 9.84% | Saturday | 17.46% | 9:00 - 9:59 PM | 5.93% |
Iowa | August | 11.38% | Saturday | 17.68% | 4:00 - 4:59 PM | 6.75% |
Kansas | July | 9.79% | Saturday | 17.27% | 2:00 - 2:59 PM | 6.55% |
Kentucky | October | 10.00% | Saturday | 16.38% | 3:00 - 3:59 PM | 6.35% |
Louisiana | October | 9.10% | Saturday | 16.88% | 8:00 - 8:59 PM | 6.76% |
Maine | August | 12.34% | Saturday | 19.60% | 4:00 - 4:59 PM | 7.26% |
Maryland | August | 10.16% | Saturday | 18.12% | 9:00 - 9:59 PM | 6.42% |
Massachusetts | July | 9.61% | Saturday | 17.66% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 6.04% |
Michigan | August | 10.53% | Saturday | 17.86% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 6.01% |
Minnesota | July | 10.88% | Saturday | 16.91% | 3:00 - 3:59 PM | 7.15% |
Mississippi | October | 10.13% | Saturday | 16.86% | 8:00 - 8:59 PM | 6.01% |
Missouri | August | 9.93% | Saturday | 17.85% | 3:00 - 3:59 PM | 5.93% |
Montana | July | 13.99% | Saturday | 19.21% | 8:00 - 8:59 PM | 6.12% |
Nebraska | September | 10.72% | Sunday | 17.19% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 6.17% |
Nevada | September | 9.45% | Saturday | 18.78% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 6.36% |
New Hampshire | July | 11.35% | Saturday | 16.78% | 2:00 - 2:59 PM | 7.52% |
New Jersey | July | 9.62% | Saturday | 17.47% | 9:00 - 9:59 PM | 6.18% |
New Mexico | July | 9.84% | Saturday | 18.20% | 8:00 - 8:59 PM | 6.77% |
New York | August | 9.20% | Saturday | 17.42% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 6.02% |
North Carolina | October | 9.42% | Saturday | 17.19% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 6.20% |
North Dakota | August | 11.68% | Saturday | 19.35% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 7.16% |
Ohio | August | 10.46% | Saturday | 17.42% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 5.90% |
Oklahoma | July | 9.72% | Saturday | 16.44% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 6.17% |
Oregon | July | 10.35% | Saturday | 16.32% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 7.11% |
Pennsylvania | August | 9.74% | Saturday | 17.06% | 3:00 - 3:59 PM | 6.27% |
Rhode Island | July | 10.77% | Sunday | 16.84% | 9:00 - 9:59 PM | 7.59% |
South Carolina | October | 10.05% | Saturday | 18.91% | 9:00 - 9:59 PM | 6.54% |
South Dakota | August | 14.53% | Saturday | 20.26% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 8.08% |
Tennessee | August | 9.47% | Saturday | 17.77% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 6.16% |
Texas | October | 9.24% | Saturday | 18.10% | 9:00 - 9:59 PM | 6.17% |
Utah | July | 11.23% | Saturday | 18.19% | 3:00 - 3:59 PM | 6.65% |
Vermont | September | 11.94% | Saturday | 17.20% | 4:00 - 4:59 PM | 8.19% |
Virginia | October | 10.06% | Saturday | 17.26% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 6.13% |
Washington | August | 10.47% | Saturday | 16.75% | 6:00 - 6:59 PM | 6.15% |
West Virginia | October | 10.70% | Friday | 16.32% | 5:00 - 5:59 PM | 6.80% |
Wisconsin | August | 11.07% | Saturday | 18.92% | 3:00 - 3:59 PM | 6.68% |
Wyoming | August | 13.64% | Saturday | 17.42% | 4:00 - 4:59 PM | 6.62% |
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