Injury Lawyers Bader Scott analyzed fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2013 to 2022 to see which areas of America had the largest increases in fatal crashes from the week before daylight savings time end to the week after.
Between 2013 and 2022, the most dangerous time to drive in the week after daylight savings was 5 p.m. Tuesday, with crashes happening over two and a half times (173.1%) more often at this time than the week before.
In the week after daylight savings, 5 p.m. was the most dangerous overall time to drive on average and was the most dangerous time on every day except for Monday. Fatal crashes happened 79.9% more frequently at 5 p.m. the week after daylight savings than at 5 p.m. the week before.
This increase in crashes is partly due to the evening rush hour being a lot darker in the week after daylight savings than before, meaning an increased risk of crashes due to lower 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 clock is suddenly an hour out of sync with the time.”
Worst states
Vermont was the most dangerous state to drive in the week after daylight savings. Fatal crashes increased by 83.33% from six in the week before daylight savings end to 11 in the week after. This is 88.33 percentage points above the 4.99% decrease observed in America overall. Rhode Island had the second highest increase, with fatal crashes increasing by 63.64% in the week after the first Sunday of November, 68.63 percentage points above the national average.
California fared well in the rankings at 35, with fatalities going down from 777 to 708, 8.88%.
Metro areas
While California fared well in the state rankings, its metro areas had mixed reviews. Fresno was the top of the list as the most dangerous area after DST ends. San Jose-Santa Clara ranked fourth worst. But, metro areas in Southern California including Los Angeles, Riverside and Anaheim all went down.
Methodology
Data on fatal crashes was obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 2013 to 2022.Fatal crashes for the week before and week after daylight savings end were found for each area.
States were ranked by the percentage change in fatal crashes from the week before daylight savings end to the week after.
To find the most dangerous time to drive in an area, the percentage change in fatal crashes from the week before to the week after daylight savings end was found for each hour on each day. The percentage changes were then combined by hour and averaged for the entire week.
Data is correct as of October 30, 2024.
Sources: 2013-22 Fatality Analysis Reporting System, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, baderscott.com