Fatal Crash Data

Most dangerous time to drive by state

In 46 of 51 states the worst day for fatal crashes is Saturday; the most common worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm, in 14 states.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia, A to Z. Click a state for its roads, counties and the rest of its figures.

When: every state, 2015 to 2024

StateWorst hourShareWorst weekdayShare
Alabama5 pm to 6 pm6.1%Saturday17%
Alaska5 pm to 6 pm8.4%Saturday18%
Arizona8 pm to 9 pm6.8%Saturday18%
Arkansas5 pm to 6 pm6.6%Saturday17%
California8 pm to 9 pm6.6%Saturday17%
Colorado5 pm to 6 pm6.2%Saturday18%
Connecticut7 pm to 8 pm6.6%Saturday18%
Delaware9 pm to 10 pm7.5%Saturday18%
District of Columbia11 pm to midnight8.5%Friday17%
Florida8 pm to 9 pm7.0%Saturday17%
Georgia7 pm to 8 pm5.8%Saturday17%
Hawaii8 pm to 9 pm7.6%Saturday18%
Idaho4 pm to 5 pm7.0%Saturday18%
Illinois6 pm to 7 pm5.5%Saturday18%
Indiana4 pm to 5 pm5.6%Saturday17%
Iowa5 pm to 6 pm7.2%Saturday17%
Kansas2 pm to 3 pm6.3%Saturday16%
Kentucky3 pm to 4 pm6.2%Saturday16%
Louisiana8 pm to 9 pm6.7%Sunday16%
Maine4 pm to 5 pm7.0%Saturday19%
Maryland9 pm to 10 pm6.7%Saturday18%
Massachusetts5 pm to 6 pm6.3%Saturday18%
Michigan9 pm to 10 pm5.8%Saturday17%
Minnesota5 pm to 6 pm6.7%Saturday17%
Mississippi8 pm to 9 pm6.5%Saturday17%
Missouri6 pm to 7 pm6.2%Saturday18%
Montana6 pm to 7 pm6.5%Saturday18%
Nebraska4 pm to 5 pm6.5%Friday17%
Nevada6 pm to 7 pm6.5%Saturday18%
New Hampshire5 pm to 6 pm7.7%Sunday16%
New Jersey8 pm to 9 pm6.4%Saturday17%
New Mexico8 pm to 9 pm6.7%Saturday18%
New York5 pm to 6 pm6.1%Saturday17%
North Carolina9 pm to 10 pm6.2%Saturday17%
North Dakota3 pm to 4 pm6.5%Saturday19%
Ohio6 pm to 7 pm6.1%Saturday17%
Oklahoma6 pm to 7 pm6.3%Saturday17%
Oregon5 pm to 6 pm6.8%Saturday16%
Pennsylvania3 pm to 4 pm6.2%Saturday17%
Rhode Island9 pm to 10 pm7.1%Sunday18%
South Carolina9 pm to 10 pm6.8%Saturday19%
South Dakota5 pm to 6 pm6.7%Saturday20%
Tennessee5 pm to 6 pm6.1%Saturday17%
Texas9 pm to 10 pm6.5%Saturday17%
Utah3 pm to 4 pm6.6%Saturday18%
Vermont5 pm to 6 pm7.5%Saturday18%
Virginia6 pm to 7 pm6.2%Saturday17%
Washington5 pm to 6 pm6.2%Saturday17%
West Virginia2 pm to 3 pm6.7%Saturday16%
Wisconsin3 pm to 4 pm6.6%Saturday19%
Wyoming4 pm to 5 pm6.4%Saturday18%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

Download the most dangerous time to drive by state table as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/most-dangerous-time-to-drive-by-state/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”

Questions about most dangerous time to drive by state

Which state has the most concentrated hour for fatal crashes?
In 46 of 51 states the worst day for fatal crashes is Saturday; the most common worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm, in 14 states. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
What time of day do most fatal car accidents happen?
From 2015 to 2024, more fatal crashes in the United States happened between 6 pm and 7 pm than in any other hour: 21,062, 5.9% of those with a known time. The eight hours from 4 pm to midnight held 44% of them. The deadliest stretch of the week is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight.

How NHTSA records the hour and weekday with the most fatal crashes

The hour of the day and the day of the week with the most fatal crashes in each state from 2015 to 2024, with the share of the state's fatal crashes that fell in it. Ten years are pooled so small states have enough crashes per hour. States are listed A to Z, not ranked: the peak share of 24 hours rises as a state's count falls, so a rank would only list the smallest states.

A share is only given over 20 crashes (or deaths); otherwise the row says "Not enough data" and has no rank. Shares are of the state's own fatal crashes or deaths. For deaths per resident and per mile driven, see the car accident rate by state. The full method.