October Is the Deadliest Driving Month in Nearly Half of U.S. States

The most dangerous month to drive in the United States depends heavily on the type of crash being measured.

Overall fatal crashes were most likely to peak in October, impaired-driving crashes reached their highest national total in September, speeding-related crashes were concentrated in May, distracted-driving crashes clustered in March, and pedestrian deaths rose most sharply during the darkest months of the year.

A state-by-state analysis by Sweet James found that October was the deadliest overall driving month in 24 states during 2024, more than any other month. The study reviewed fatal motor vehicle crashes across several categories, including all fatal crashes, crashes involving impaired drivers, speeding-related collisions, distracted-driving incidents and pedestrian-involved fatalities.

The findings show that roadway danger does not follow one national calendar. Instead, each crash category has its own seasonal pattern, and the peak month can shift based on geography, daylight, travel behavior, weather and road design.

Key Findings

• The United States recorded 36,297 fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2024.
• October had the highest monthly total with 3,369 fatal crashes.
• August followed with 3,342 crashes.
• September ranked third with 3,277.
• October was the deadliest overall driving month in 24 states.
• April and July each ranked first in seven states.
• June and August each led in five states.
• September was the deadliest DUI month in 18 states.
• June led DUI crashes in 16 states.
• May was the deadliest speeding month in 33 states.
• March was the deadliest distracted-driving month in 33 states.
• January was the deadliest pedestrian-crash month in 37 states.
• November recorded the highest national pedestrian death total at 728.

October Led the Nation in Overall Fatal Crashes

Fatal crashes were most heavily concentrated between late summer and fall.

Only 27 crashes separated October from August. October exceeded September by 92 crashes.

The state-level results were even more pronounced.

October ranked first in nearly half of all states and was especially dominant in the South. It was the deadliest month in 10 of the region’s 16 states.

September appeared more frequently across the Midwest, while the Northeast was more evenly divided between July and October.

The geographic differences suggest that traffic fatality peaks are shaped by local conditions rather than one uniform national event.

Wyoming Had the Highest October Fatality Rate

The highest state fatality rates were not necessarily recorded in the most populous states.

Wyoming ranked first during its deadliest month with 2.04 fatalities per 100,000 residents. Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina and Alabama followed.

Several of the highest-rate states have smaller populations and large rural roadway systems. Long travel distances, higher speeds, limited lighting and delayed emergency response can increase the severity of crashes even when the raw number of collisions is lower than in larger states.

The lowest October rates were recorded in:

• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• New York
• Utah

The gap between the highest- and lowest-rate jurisdictions reinforces the importance of population-adjusted comparisons. A state can record fewer total crashes but still have a high fatality rate relative to the number of residents.

Fall Creates Several Overlapping Road Hazards

Approximately 72% of U.S. drivers live in states where fall represents the peak season for accident damage.

Several conditions may contribute to October’s prominence:

• Shorter daylight hours
• More commuting after dark
• Wet leaves reducing tire traction
• Increased deer activity
• Seasonal travel
• Changing weather conditions

Nearly half of deer-related crashes occur between October and December.

The seasonal decline in daylight is particularly important. Nighttime travel represents a smaller share of total vehicle miles, but crash risk rises substantially after dark. As sunset arrives earlier, more drivers commute during low-light conditions.

Wet leaves can also reduce traction, making braking and steering more difficult. Combined with higher wildlife activity, the fall season creates a mix of hazards that may be less visible than major holiday traffic periods but appear repeatedly in fatal crash data.

September Led Fatal DUI Crashes

Impaired-driving crashes followed a different pattern.

There were 5,477 fatal crashes involving a driver under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication in 2024.

September exceeded June by 15 crashes and August by 25.

At the state level:

• September was the deadliest DUI month in 18 states.
• June ranked first in 16 states.
• Other states peaked in a mix of spring, summer, fall and winter months.

Tennessee recorded the highest DUI fatal crash rate in the country. West Virginia, Oregon, Alaska and Connecticut followed.

Several of the highest-ranking states reached their peak in June, suggesting that impaired-driving danger begins near the start of summer rather than building only around late-summer holidays.

Football Season Overlaps With DUI Risk

The concentration of fatal DUI crashes in September places the start of football season within one of the most dangerous periods for impaired driving.

Labor Day weekend, which overlaps with the beginning of the NFL calendar, carries a fatal DUI crash risk 53% above the daily average.

Fall accounts for approximately 26% of DUI-related deaths, second only to summer.

Alcohol-impaired crashes continue to represent about 30% of all U.S. traffic fatalities. In 2024:

• 11,904 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes.
• One person died in an alcohol-impaired crash every 44 minutes.
• September recorded the highest monthly total of fatal DUI-involved crashes.

The figures suggest that impaired-driving risk does not end with summer vacations. In many states, it remains elevated through football season and early fall.

May Was the Deadliest Month for Speeding in 33 States

Speeding showed one of the strongest state-level patterns in the study.

There were 10,203 fatal crashes involving speeding in 2024.

September and August followed May in national crash totals, but no other month matched May’s dominance across the states.

Tennessee recorded the highest speeding-related fatal crash rate at 1.63 per 100,000 residents.

Other high-rate states included:

• Oregon
• Wyoming
• Mississippi
• Montana
• South Carolina

Many of those states contain long rural highways where vehicles travel at higher speeds for extended distances. Crashes on those roads may be more likely to result in death because of impact force, limited lighting and longer emergency response times.

May Marks the Start of the 100 Deadliest Days

The speeding peak arrives just as the school year ends and the summer driving season begins.

More teenagers are on the road between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a period commonly called the “100 Deadliest Days.”

Teen-driving data shows:

• More than 31% of teen-driver deaths occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
• Crashes involving teen drivers caused 860 deaths in 2023.
• Speed contributes to nearly 30% of teen-driver crashes.

Warmer weather also brings more motorcycles onto the road. Recent data showed a sharp increase in motorcycle fatalities among riders ages 15 to 20.

Across all drivers, speeding contributes to nearly three out of every 10 traffic deaths.

March Dominated Distracted-Driving Fatalities

Distracted driving peaked earlier in the year than the other categories.

March was the deadliest distracted-driving month in 33 states.

There were 2,955 fatal crashes involving distracted drivers nationwide in 2024.

The District of Columbia recorded the highest rate during its deadliest month at 2.99 crashes per 100,000 residents.

Other high-rate jurisdictions included:

• South Carolina
• Kansas
• Tennessee
• Oklahoma
• Mississippi
• Kentucky
• Texas

The results show that distraction-related fatal crashes are not confined to densely populated urban areas. Rural states and states with long-distance travel also ranked near the top.

Although total distracted-driving crashes have declined over the past decade, the use of electronic devices remains a growing concern. Instances of drivers manipulating electronic devices doubled between 2015 and 2024.

Spring Break May Contribute to March Risk

March’s prominence overlaps with spring-break travel.

A study of popular spring-break destinations found a 9.1% increase in weekly traffic deaths between late February and early April.

Vacation travel can increase distraction by placing motorists on unfamiliar roads. Drivers may rely more heavily on:

• Navigation apps
• Mobile directions
• Music controls
• Text messages
• Voice-activated systems
• Last-second lane changes

Unlike speeding or impaired driving, distraction is often an extension of routine behavior. A driver may not view checking a route or switching a song as dangerous, even though the action removes attention from the road.

January Led Pedestrian Fatal Crashes in 37 States

Pedestrian-involved crashes produced the strongest state-level seasonal concentration.

Nationally, however, November recorded the highest pedestrian death total.

There were 7,049 pedestrian deaths in 2024.

The difference between the state and national findings reflects the distinction between the month that ranks first in the most states and the month with the largest combined number of deaths.

Nebraska recorded the highest pedestrian fatal crash rate during its deadliest month. Tennessee, Mississippi, Nevada and the District of Columbia followed.

Darkness Drives Winter Pedestrian Risk

Pedestrian deaths were heavily concentrated in late fall and winter.

The primary conditions include:

• Fewer daylight hours
• More walking after dark
• Holiday traffic
• Increased congestion
• Reduced driver visibility
• Poorly lit crossings
• Nighttime social activity

Several large states, including California, Florida, New York and New Jersey, recorded pedestrian peaks during winter or the surrounding months.

The pattern is especially important in warmer states that receive little snow. Even without icy roads, shorter daylight hours can expose more pedestrians to vehicles during low-light conditions.

The Sweet James analysis shows that roadway danger shifts dramatically depending on the behavior involved. October led overall fatal crashes, September led impaired-driving crashes, May dominated speeding, March led distraction and January was the most common state-level peak for pedestrian fatalities. The data suggests traffic safety campaigns may be most effective when they target specific risks during the months when those risks are most concentrated.