A new study reveals that between 2019 and 2023, Florida had the fifth-highest per-capita rate of nighttime fatal crashes in December nationwide.
The research by Nevada-based personal injury lawyers at H&P Law analyzed nighttime fatal crash data for December across all 50 U.S. states, sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The study identifies the states with the most hazardous winter roads by calculating the per-capita rate of nighttime fatal crashes in December between 2019 and 2023.
| Top 10 U.S. States With the Highest December Nighttime Fatal Crash Rates (2019–2023) | ||
| State | December Nighttime Fatal Crashes per Million Residents | Rank |
| South Carolina | 8.76 | 1 |
| New Mexico | 8.62 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 8.40 | 3 |
| Louisiana | 8.14 | 4 |
| Florida | 8.07 | 5 |
| Montana | 7.61 | 6 |
| Arkansas | 7.38 | 7 |
| Alabama | 7.15 | 8 |
| Georgia | 6.86 | 9 |
| Texas | 6.86 | 10 |
Florida ranks fifth with 8.07 nighttime fatal crashes per million residents in December, 72.85% above the national average of 4.67 December nighttime fatal crashes per million residents. Between 2019 and 2023, the Sunshine State recorded an annual average of 177 nighttime fatal crashes in December. The highest number of fatal nighttime crashes in December occurred in 2022 (195 crashes), while the lowest was in 2019 (153 crashes).
Looking at the study, a spokesperson from H&P Law commented,
“Florida’s December tourism boom and holiday travel make nighttime roads particularly hazardous. Many drivers are rushing between events or navigating unfamiliar areas in the dark. Combined with heavy seasonal traffic, the festive rush becomes a major factor in elevated nighttime crash risks.”
What Drivers Should Know About December Nighttime Crash Risk
Experts recommend the following strategies to reduce fatal nighttime crashes during the holiday season:
- Avoid driving late at night whenever possible, especially after long days of work or holiday activities.
- Slow down and increase following distance, as visibility drops sharply after sunset and winter roads leave less room for error.
- Stay fully alert by limiting distractions, putting phones away, and focusing on changing road conditions.
- Never drive while impaired or overly tired, as fatigue and alcohol remain major contributors to nighttime crashes.
- Plan routes in advance and allow extra travel time to reduce the urge to rush between holiday events.
Methodology
The study was conducted by H&P Law, an experienced personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting clients’ rights and maximizing the value of their claims.
This research analyzed December nighttime fatal crash data from 2019 to 2023 across all 50 U.S. states, sourced from the CDAN Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The study identified the states where nighttime driving is most hazardous during the winter holiday season by comparing each state’s annual average of nighttime fatal crashes in December with its population density per million residents.
Data Sources:
- Data Source → https://cdan.dot.gov/query
- Data Set →
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-_cXy6NXsUX7L-YUygbK8esr0dIz-Y9jkjjW1AaiQXA/edit?gid=0#gid=0
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