The Deadliest Driving Month Depends on the Risk

October Leads the Nation, but Speeding, DUI and Pedestrian Deaths Follow Different Calendars

Fatal crashes do not follow a single national schedule. While holiday weekends and summer road trips often receive the most attention, a state-by-state analysis by Sweet James found that the most dangerous period for drivers depends heavily on the type of roadway risk involved.

Across the United States, 36,297 fatal motor vehicle crashes were recorded in 2024. October produced the highest national total, with 3,369 fatal crashes, narrowly exceeding August and September.

October was also the most common deadliest month at the state level. It ranked first in 24 states, compared with seven states each for April and July and five states each for June and August.

The findings show that fatal crash risks become particularly elevated during the transition from summer into fall. However, the calendar changes substantially when crashes involving impaired driving, speeding, distraction and pedestrians are analyzed separately.

October Was the Deadliest Month in Nearly Half of States

Sweet James reviewed monthly fatal crash records for every state and compared the results using population-adjusted rates. October emerged as the dominant month nationally and across several regions.

The South showed one of the clearest October patterns. The month ranked as the deadliest in 10 of the region’s 16 states. September appeared more frequently across the Midwest, while July and October were more evenly represented in the Northeast.

Several states with the highest October fatality rates were not among the nation’s most populous. Instead, smaller states with extensive rural road systems rose to the top.

States With the Highest October Fatal Crash Rates

Wyoming’s rate of 2.04 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents was the highest in the country during October. Rural highways, longer emergency response distances and smaller state populations can all increase per-capita rates, even when the raw number of crashes is comparatively low.

At the opposite end of the rankings, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and Utah recorded the lowest October fatal crash rates.

Why Fall Creates a Dangerous Mix

October’s position at the top of the rankings may be connected to several overlapping seasonal hazards.

Approximately 72% of American drivers live in states where fall represents the peak season for vehicle accident damage. Shorter days also push more commuting hours into darkness, when reduced visibility can make it harder to identify vehicles, pedestrians and roadway hazards.

Other fall risks include:

• Wet leaves that reduce tire traction
• Earlier sunsets and longer periods of nighttime driving
• Increased deer activity during breeding season
• Changing weather and road surface conditions
• High traffic volumes continuing after summer travel

Nearly half of deer-related collisions occur between October and December. Combined with darker commuting hours and unpredictable road conditions, these factors help explain why fall can rival or exceed major summer travel periods for roadway fatalities.

DUI Fatal Crashes Peak Earlier

Impaired-driving crashes followed a different calendar.

There were 5,477 fatal crashes involving a driver under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication in 2024. September recorded the highest national total, with 534 fatal DUI crashes, followed by June with 519 and August with 509.

September was the deadliest DUI month in 18 states, while June led in 16 states.

Tennessee recorded the highest population-adjusted fatal DUI crash rate, followed by West Virginia, Oregon, Alaska and Connecticut. Several of the highest-ranking states experienced their DUI peak in June, showing that impaired-driving risks begin rising at the start of summer and remain elevated into early fall.

The timing also overlaps with football season. Labor Day weekend, which falls near the beginning of the NFL calendar, has historically carried a fatal DUI crash risk 53% higher than the average day.

Alcohol-impaired crashes remain a major national safety problem:

• 11,904 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2024
• Alcohol impairment accounted for approximately 30% of traffic deaths
• One person died in an alcohol-impaired crash approximately every 44 minutes
• Fall accounted for roughly 26% of DUI-related deaths, behind only summer

The numbers indicate that DUI risks do not end when summer vacation concludes. In many states, September gatherings, sporting events and late-season travel keep impaired-driving fatalities elevated.

May Dominates the Speeding Rankings

Speeding showed the strongest state-level concentration in the study.

May was the deadliest month for speeding-related fatal crashes in 33 states. No other month came close to matching that total.

Nationwide, speeding was involved in 10,203 fatal crashes in 2024. May led with 962 crashes, followed by September and August.

Tennessee recorded the highest speeding-related fatal crash rate at 1.63 per 100,000 residents. Oregon, Wyoming, Mississippi, Montana and South Carolina also ranked near the top.

May marks the beginning of major seasonal changes. Schools begin dismissing for summer, teenagers spend more time behind the wheel and recreational travel increases. The month also falls near the beginning of the period commonly called the 100 Deadliest Days, which runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

More than 31% of teenage-driver deaths occur during that period. In 2023, crashes involving teenage drivers resulted in 860 fatalities, and speeding contributed to nearly 30% of teen-driver crashes.

Distracted Driving Peaks in March

Distracted-driving fatalities produced another highly concentrated pattern. March was the deadliest month in 33 states.

Across the country, distracted driving contributed to 2,955 fatal crashes in 2024. The District of Columbia recorded the highest rate during its deadliest month at 2.99 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents. South Carolina, Kansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky and Texas also ranked near the top.

March’s dominance may be connected to spring travel. Fatalities in popular spring-break destinations have been found to increase by 9.1% per week between late February and early April.

Drivers traveling in unfamiliar areas may depend more heavily on navigation systems, change lanes unexpectedly or make sudden decisions. At the same time, electronic-device manipulation has become more common. The frequency of drivers actively handling electronic devices doubled between 2015 and 2024.

Pedestrian Deaths Concentrate in Winter

Pedestrian fatalities followed the most winter-focused calendar in the analysis.

January was the deadliest month for pedestrian-involved fatal crashes in 37 states. November ranked first in seven states, while December led in two.

Nationally, however, November recorded the highest total, with 728 pedestrian deaths.

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

Reduced daylight is a major concern during late fall and winter. More pedestrians are walking or crossing streets after sunset, while holiday congestion places additional vehicles on the road. These dangers can remain elevated even in states where snow and ice are uncommon.

Roadway Danger Changes Throughout the Year

The Sweet James analysis demonstrates that there is no single “crash season” that applies to every roadway hazard.

October was the most common deadliest month overall, September led impaired-driving crashes, May dominated speeding fatalities, March led distracted-driving crashes and January was the deadliest pedestrian month in most states.

For drivers, the findings show that roadway risks do not disappear when one travel season ends. They change form.

Understanding those seasonal differences can help motorists anticipate the hazards most likely to appear throughout the year. For people injured in serious collisions, the consequences can continue long after the roadway is cleared, including medical costs, lost income, insurance disputes and questions about responsibility.

Sweet James works with crash victims and families facing those consequences, providing legal guidance when a serious collision creates lasting financial and personal challenges.