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When Are the Most Common Times for Fatal Car Accidents?

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Despite significant drops in traffic during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of motor vehicle fatalities in the U.S. did not decrease.
In 2020, 38,824 people died in traffic incidents: a nearly 7% increase over 2019. It was also the highest number of vehicular deaths since 2007.

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This figure becomes even more sobering when you consider that the overall number of reported crashes actually fell by 22% during the same time period. In other words, fewer car accidents were more deadly with a higher percentage of crashes resulting in at least one death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that nearly half of all fatal crashes in 2020 were the result of one of several common denominators: excess speed, impaired driving, or failure to use a safety belt.

Cars driving on highway at nightCanva

Staver Injury Law Firm collected data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2020 Fatality Analysis Reporting System to determine when a fatal car crash most commonly occurs on each day of the week. To be included in the data, the collision had to take place within the United States (including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico); must have occurred on a roadway open to the public; and had a fatality related to it within 30 days of the incident, as fatal car accidents do not always cause death on impact.

Like many federal agencies, NHTSA’s statistical reporting on various traffic and road safety-related numbers is not released until up to 12 months after the end of a reporting period (which is typically annually or biannually). Therefore, the agency’s May 17, 2022, preliminary estimate of 2021 traffic fatality numbers is not included in this data analysis. This preliminary report estimates that 42,915 people died in traffic collisions last year, an increase of more than 10% since 2020.

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VRFA, APD, Algona PD, and King County Medic One on scene of a motorcycle accident on W Valley Hwy
VRFA, APD, Algona PD, and King County Medic One on scene of a motorcycle accident on W Valley Hwy | Courtesy Photo, VRFA

One factor not often taken into account when looking into traffic deaths is the time of day in which they occur. Many might assume nighttime driving is more deadly due to lower visibility and an increased likelihood of sleep-deprived, distracted, or drunk driving. But data reveals that this is not always the case; a more significant risk factor can be the day of the week on which an incident occurs.

You Might Also Like: Motorcycle Fatality Increase a Cause for Concern

Monday

– Time with the most fatal crashes: 3 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.
– Number of fatal crashes: 757

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Tuesday

– Time with the most fatal crashes: 6 p.m. to 8:59 p.m.
– Number of fatal crashes: 849

Wednesday

– Time with the most fatal crashes: 6 p.m. to 8:59 p.m.
– Number of fatal crashes: 870

Thursday

– Time with the most fatal crashes: 6 p.m. to 8:59 p.m.
– Number of fatal crashes: 868

Friday

– Time with the most fatal crashes: 6 p.m. to 8:59 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. (tie)
– Number of fatal crashes: 1,104

Saturday

– Time with the most fatal crashes: 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
– Number of fatal crashes: 1,158

Sunday

– Time with the most fatal crashes: Midnight to 2:59 a.m.
– Number of fatal crashes: 1,006


This story originally appeared on Staver Injury Law Firm and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio, it has been republished with permission. The Auburn Examiner hasn’t independently verified its content.

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