How to Avoid the Dangers of Driving in the Fall
During fall there were 8,290* fatal accidents recorded in the United States, making it the third most dangerous season to be on the roads. Using a detailed report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of every fatal road accident that occurred across the United States, we have discovered the most dangerous times to be on the road, the states with the highest and lowest fatal accident rates and the cities which topped the list as the most dangerous during Fall.
We’ve also included our top tips on the dangers to watch out for and driving tips to help you stay safe on the road this Fall.
What are the most dangerous times to be on the road during Fall?
Using the data from the NHTSA report, we found that there were 8,290 fatal accidents were recorded between September and November, and the national average fatal accident rate (per 100,000 residents) was 2.65. Most fatal accidents are recorded in October, with Friday being the most dangerous day to be on the road and the evening rush hour time of 6:00pm-6:59pm the most dangerous hour. With traffic increasing after the school holidays and daylight savings bringing the nights in earlier, drivers should make sure they are extra vigilant around school zones and that their vehicle is ready for driving in the dark.
Where are the most dangerous places to drive during Fall?
Our analysis found that the most dangerous State to drive during Fall is Mississippi where the fatal accident rate is 4.42 (accidents per 100,000 residents). This is 1.7x higher than the national average of 2.65 and 4.3x higher than Massachusetts, the state with the lowest fatal accident rate. The top 5 most dangerous states during fall are Mississippi (1), Alabama (2), South Carolina (3), New Mexico (4) and Tennessee (5), 4 of which are situated in the Southeast. Our analysis also identified the most dangerous cities, with Jackson, MS (1), Glendale, AZ (2), Tucson, AZ (3), Kansas City, MO (4) and Memphis, TN (5) topping the list.
Where are the safest places to drive during Fall?
We found that the safest State to drive during Fall is Massachusetts, where the fatal accident rate is 1.06 (accidents per 100,000 residents). The US national average of 2.65 is 2.2x higher and none of the top 10 most dangerous cities are within the State. The top 5 safest states to drive in the US are Massachusetts (1), New York (2), Rhode Island (3), New Hampshire (4) and Minnesota (5).
This is the first part of a series of seasonal road safety advisory articles that we hope will raise awareness of the changing risks when driving throughout the year. Our fleet management software is designed for fleet operators, but our aim is to share information that will help all road users stay safe on the road.