Over half of California’s fatal crashes happen at night, new study reveals
- California had the highest share of crashes occurring after dark in the country, with 62% of all its fatal crashes taking place at night.
- More than half (53.6%) of all fatal crashes nationwide occurred at night, with 19,441 nighttime crashes recorded across the U.S.
- Texas recorded the highest number of nighttime fatal crashes, with 2,247 incidents, ahead of California by just 1.2%.
A new study, conducted by Zilocar.com, which provides the best vehicle history (VIN) reports, has found the most dangerous states to drive in at night in the U.S. The latest available fatal crash data was collected from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which is maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Texas recorded more nighttime fatal crashes than any other state in 2024, with 2,247, accounting for 59.5% of its 3,774 total crashes for the year. That figure puts Texas just 1.2% ahead of California. Within the year, Texas saw its highest nighttime crash counts in March and October, both at 213, while February was its lowest month at 147, a gap of 45%.
California followed closely behind with 2,221 nighttime crashes, representing 62.0% of its 3,583 total crashes, the highest nighttime share of any state in the top 10. September was California’s worst month for nighttime crashes at 206, while February was its lowest at 163, a 26% difference between the two.
Florida placed third with 1,734 nighttime crashes, making up 59.2% of its 2,931 total crashes. March was Florida’s worst month at 181 nighttime crashes, while September was its lowest at 115, a difference of 57%.
North Carolina ranked fourth with 757 nighttime crashes out of 1,509 total, putting it at 50.2%, the second-lowest nighttime percentage among the top 10 states. April was its most dangerous month for nighttime crashes at 82, while March was the lowest at 53, a 55%increase from the low point to the high point.
Georgia came in fifth with 704 nighttime crashes, or 53.7% of its 1,312 total crashes for the year. April produced the most nighttime crashes at 72, while July had the fewest at 50, a difference of 44%.
Alex Nechoroskovas, CEO of Zilocar, commented on the findings:
“The states recording the most nighttime crashes are also among the largest and busiest in the country, so population and traffic volume explain much of the ranking. The more interesting finding is how heavily some states skew toward nighttime incidents. In California, 62% of crashes occur after dark, suggesting there may be other factors at play beyond traffic volume alone, such as road lighting, rural road networks, or local driving habits.
“Although the patterns of crashes vary by state, the findings serve as a reminder that nighttime driving presents unique challenges. Drivers should be particularly mindful of visibility, fatigue, and changing road conditions, especially during the months when crash numbers tend to peak.”