The Deadliest Times That Accidents Occur

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), during the time frame between midnight and 3 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays the most traffic fatalities occurred.

According to statistics gathered from police reported motor vehicle crashes in the United States in the year 2001, approximately 6.3 million crashes occurred.

In terms of the timing of these accidents, the month of August produced the largest number of traffic fatalities at 3,523 followed by October at 3,479, July at 3,476 and November at 3,349. This translates into 1.40 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled for fatal deaths reported in August.

With respect to injuries, May was the highest reported month with 183,000 injuries followed by March with 177,000 injuries and August and December each with 173,000 injuries. December produced the largest month of total crashes with 578,000 followed by November with 571,000 total accidents and October with 559,000 total accidents. January had the highest rate of total crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled at 265.

NHTSA reported that the three hours between midnight and 3 a.m. on Saturday had the highest traffic fatalities with 1,247. The most injury crashes occurred between the same hours with 26,000 injury crashes occurring. The hours between 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Tuesdays produced the fewest number of traffic fatality crashes with 266 reported deaths.

The same three hours, 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Thursdays produced the fewest number of traffic injury crashes. Property damage only crashes were greatest between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Fridays with 198,000 accidents. The fewest number of property damage only crashes occurred between 3 a.m.to 6 a.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday with 15,000 crashes reported

In terms of total fatalities measured by day of the week, Saturday again produced the greatest number which NHTSA reported as 6,897. Tuesday produced the fewest number of fatalities with 4,574. Injury crashes occurred the most on Fridays with 348,000 injury crashes reported. Sunday produced the fewest injury crashes with 225,000 crashes reported on that day.

The combined numbers for fatal crashes, injury crashes and property damage only crashes demonstrate that for all crash types combined, Friday was the highest at 1,106,000 total crashes and Sunday was the lowest with 660,000 total crashes.