These are the deadliest times to drive after daylight saving time ends

Damage Lawyers Bader Scott analyzed fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2013 to 2022 to see which parts of America saw the largest increase in fatal crashes from the week before the end of daylight saving time to the week after.

Between 2013 and 2022, the most dangerous time to drive during the week was Tuesday at 5 p.m., with crashes at this time more than two and a half times (173.1%) more common than the previous week.

In the week after Daylight Savings Time, 5 p.m. was the most dangerous time to drive on average, and it was the most dangerous time every day except Monday. Fatal accidents occurred 79.9% more often at 5 p.m. the week after daylight saving time than at 5 p.m. the week before.

This increase in the number of accidents is partly because the evening rush hour in the week after summer time is a lot darker than before, which increases the risk of accidents due to reduced visibility.

Seth Bader of Bader Scott said, “The end of Daylight Savings Time can be one of the most dangerous times of year to be on the road, as everyone’s body clocks are suddenly an hour out of sync with time.”

Worst states

Vermont was the most dangerous state to drive in the week after Daylight Savings Time. The number of fatal accidents increased by 83.33%, from six in the week before the end of daylight saving time to eleven in the week after. This is 88.33 percentage points above the 4.99% decline seen in America as a whole. Rhode Island saw the second highest increase, with fatal crashes increasing 63.64% in the week after the first Sunday in November, 68.63 percentage points above the national average.

California fared well in the rankings at 35, with a decline in fatalities from 777 to 708, 8.88%.

Metro areas

While California fared well in the state rankings, its urban areas received mixed reviews. Fresno topped the list as the most dangerous area after daylight saving time ended. San Jose-Santa Clara ranked fourth worst. But metropolitan areas in Southern California, including Los Angeles, Riverside and Anaheim, all went bankrupt.

Methodology

Fatalities data were obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 2013 to 2022. For each area, fatalities were found for the week before and the week after the end of daylight saving time.

States were ranked based on the percentage change in fatal crashes from the week before the end of daylight saving time to the week after.

To find the most dangerous time to drive in an area, the percentage change in fatal crashes for each hour on each day from the week before to the week after the end of daylight saving time was found. The percentage changes were then combined hourly and averaged for the entire week.

Data correct as of October 30, 2024.

Sources: Death Analysis Reporting System 2013-2222, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationn, baderscott.com