Quick summary: A new analysis reveals that Texas has recorded the highest number of nighttime fatal vehicle crashes in the United States with 2247 incidents, closely followed by California where a striking 62% of all fatal collisions occur after dark. The study highlights that more than half of all fatal crashes nationwide take place during the night, with significant seasonal spikes occurring in specific states during late summer and autumn months. For public policy and road safety infrastructure, these findings demonstrate an urgent need to direct funding towards improved highway lighting, targeted law enforcement during high-risk hours, and community well-being campaigns to reduce the unique physiological hazards of nighttime driving.
Texas has recorded the highest number of nighttime fatal crashes in the US, according to a new analysis of the latest official data. The state saw 2,247 such incidents, narrowly ahead of California by just 1.2%. Nationwide, more than half of all fatal crashes, specifically 53.6%, occurred at night, with a total of 19,441 nighttime crashes recorded across the country.
A study conducted by Zilocar.com, which provides detailed vehicle history reports through VIN checks, examined fatal crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Top 10 states for nighttime fatal crashes
- Texas: 2,247 nighttime crashes out of 3,774 total crashes; 59.5% occurred at night. Highest monthly counts came in March and October, both at 213 incidents, while February recorded the lowest at 147, a gap of 45%.
- California: 2,221 nighttime crashes out of 3,583 total crashes; 62.0% occurred at night, the highest proportion among the top 10 states. September was the most challenging month with 206 nighttime crashes, compared with February’s low of 163, a 26% difference.
- Florida: 1,734 nighttime crashes out of 2,931 total crashes; 59.2% occurred at night. March saw the highest number at 181, while September had the fewest at 115, a 57% difference.
- North Carolina: 757 nighttime crashes out of 1,509 total crashes; 50.2% occurred at night, the second lowest nighttime percentage among the top 10 states. April recorded its peak at 82 nighttime crashes against March’s low of 53, a 55% increase.
- Georgia: 704 nighttime crashes out of 1,312 total crashes; 53.7% occurred at night. April produced the most at 72, while July had the fewest at 50, a difference of 44%.
- Arizona: 595 nighttime crashes out of 1,118 total crashes; 53.2% occurred at night. October was the worst month at 62, while May recorded 39, making October 59% higher than the low point.
- Illinois: 590 nighttime crashes out of 1,085 total crashes; 54.4% occurred at night. October peaked at 65 against January’s low of 36, an 81% difference.
- Ohio: 566 nighttime crashes out of 1,077 total crashes; 52.6% occurred at night. August stood out as its most dangerous month with 75 nighttime crashes, compared with just 29 in February, a 159% increase, the widest monthly gap among the top 10 states.
- South Carolina: 539 nighttime crashes out of 948 total crashes; 56.9% occurred at night. October reached 59, while January saw 37, a 59% difference.
- Tennessee: 518 nighttime crashes out of 1,093 total crashes; 47.4% occurred at night, the lowest nighttime share in the ranking. August recorded the highest at 61, against January’s lowest of 33, an 85% increase.
Alex Nechoroskovas, CEO of Zilocar, commented on the findings. “The states recording the most nighttime crashes are also among the largest and busiest in the country, so population and traffic volume explain much of the ranking. The more interesting finding is how heavily some states skew toward nighttime incidents. In California, for example, 62% of crashes occur after dark, suggesting there may be other factors at play beyond traffic volume alone, such as road lighting, rural road networks, or local driving habits. Some states also show much larger seasonal changes than others. Ohio’s 159% increase between its lowest and highest months stands out and could point to seasonal conditions or travel patterns influencing crash rates. By comparison, states with smaller fluctuations may face a more consistent level of risk throughout the year.”
The analysis highlights the significant risks associated with driving after dark and the value of examining state-specific patterns in fatal crash data.