The arrival of cooler fall temperatures is accompanied by frightening roadways across most of the nation.
According to CARFAX data, fall is the most dangerous season to drive. Its analysis found that in 39 states, fall had the highest percentage of accidents compared to all other seasons.
California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Wisconsin were among the states seeing a spike in fall crashes.
“Seasonal shifts can bring new risks on the road, making this a good time to slow down, stay alert, and check for maintenance or open recalls to ensure the safety of the vehicle and everyone on the road,” said Faisal Hasan, Vice President of Data Acquisition at CARFAX.
The CARFAX report listed the following reasons for the increase in fall accidents:
- Diminishing Daylight: Fall means shorter days and more time driving in the dark. Drivers are twice as likely to have an accident in the dark as they are in daylight. About half of all U.S. accidents happen in the dark, despite fewer drivers out after dusk, according to the National Safety Council. Less visibility also means slower reaction time.
- Slick Surfaces: Tree debris and wet leaves on the roadway can pose a major risk. Braking on wet leaves can make a car travel more than twice as far as braking on a dry road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Deer Danger: More deer crashes occur in the last few months of the year, due to mating season and migration, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute.
Six states – Connecticut, Oklahoma, Vermont, New Hampshire, Montana, and North Dakota – have the most crashes in the winter. Summer sees the most accidents in Hawaii, Washington, and Oregon. For Pennsylvania and Florida, the most dangerous season is spring.
