Top 10 U.S. States With the Worst Traffic Accident Rates During the Evening Rush Hour: New York, Alabama, Virginia at the Top
- New York has the highest fatal rush-hour crash rate in the U.S. — 34.6 crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers.
- Alabama and Virginia take the second and third spots with fatal crash rates of 28.4 and 27 per 100,000 licensed drivers.
- Vermont registers a fatal rush-hour crash rate of 0.2 per 100,000 licensed drivers.
The study reveals that New York has the highest fatal crash rate during the evening rush hour in the U.S.
The research by Washington, DC-based personal injury law firm Kitchel Law analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data from 2018 to 2022 on fatal crashes occurring between 5 and 7 p.m. The study then measured crash rates per 100,000 licensed drivers to identify the states with the highest evening rush-hour fatalities.
New York has the nation’s highest fatal crash rate during the evening rush hour (5 p.m.-7 p.m.), with 34.6 crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers — six times the national average of 5 crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. Between 2018 and 2022, the Empire State averaged 177.8 fatal accidents annually among its 513,838 licensed drivers. Evening rush-hour fatalities hit a record high of 204 in 2022, while 2019 recorded the lowest toll at 146.
Alabama ranks second with a fatal evening rush-hour crash rate of 28.4 per 100,000 licensed drivers — almost 468% higher than the national average. The state’s 528,873 licensed drivers faced a 5-year average of 150.4 fatal rush hour accidents between 2018 and 2022. The worst year was 2021 with 170 crashes while 2019 reported the fewest (131).
Virginia occupies the third spot in the evening rush hour (5-7pm) with a fatal crash rate of 27.0 per 100,000 licensed drivers — 440% higher than the national average. Among the state’s 543,057 licensed drivers, the 5-year fatality average was 146.4 between 2018 and 2022. The deadliest year was 2022 with 173 fatalities, while 2018 recorded the fewest at 121.
Looking at the study, a spokesperson at Kitchel Law commented:
“The data highlights the states grappling with road fatalities during the evening rush hour. Fatigue from a long day at work and the rush to beat traffic can lead to a lack of focus and road rage — two key ingredients for accidents.
“We urge drivers to consider traveling during less congested times, stay hydrated, and take breaks by stepping out of the car for a few stretches to stay alert and reduce risk on the road.”
North Carolina takes the fourth spot with an evening rush hour fatal crash rate of 18.2 per 100,000 licensed drivers, exceeding the national average by 264%. Between 2018 and 2022, the Tar Heel state’s 1,374,529 licensed drivers experienced a 5-year average of 250.6 fatal accidents between 5p.m. and 7p.m. Evening rush hour fatalities reached their maximum in 2021 with 289 crashes and minimum in 2018 with 229 accidents.
Arizona ranks fifth with a fatal crash rate of 8.6 per 100,000 licensed drivers— 72% above the national average. With 2,097,201 licensed drivers, the state averaged 180 fatal evening rush hour accidents from 2018-2022. These evening rush-hour fatalities hit their highest point in 2022 (200) and lowest in 2019 (159).
Missouri (6th) with a fatal evening rush-hour crash rate of 7.9 per 100,000 licensed drivers, followed by Wisconsin (7th) at 7.7 per 100,000 licensed drivers, New Jersey (8th) at 6.9 per 100,000 licensed drivers, Indiana (9th) at 6.3 per 100,000 licensed drivers, and Massachusetts (10th) at 5.9 per 100,000 licensed drivers.
Table for Extended Results:
| Top 10 U.S. States With Highest Evening Rush-Hour Crash Data | ||||
| State | Average 5 pm to 7 pm Fatal Crash Rates (2018-2022) | Licensed Drivers | Fatal Evening Rush-Hour Crashes per 100,000 Licensed Drivers | Rank |
| New York | 177.8 | 513,838 | 34.6 | 1 |
| Alabama | 150.4 | 528,873 | 28.4 | 2 |
| Virginia | 146.4 | 543,057 | 27.0 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 250.6 | 1,374,529 | 18.2 | 4 |
| Arizona | 180 | 2,097,201 | 8.6 | 5 |
| Missouri | 154.6 | 1,968,907 | 7.9 | 6 |
| Wisconsin | 90.6 | 1,177,136 | 7.7 | 7 |
| New Jersey | 99.8 | 1,456,500 | 6.9 | 8 |
| Indiana | 134 | 2,143,665 | 6.3 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | 59.6 | 1,011,385 | 5.9 | 10 |
The study was conducted by Kitchel Law, a personal injury law firm serving clients and families throughout the Washington, DC area. The firm specializes in representing individuals injured in bicycle accidents, pedestrian collisions, and cases of medical malpractice.
ENDS
P.S. If using this story, please credit and link to www.kitchellaw.com
Methodology
The research analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data from 2018 to 2022 on fatal crashes occurring between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The study then measured crash rates per 100,000 licensed drivers to identify the states with the highest evening rush-hour fatalities.
Data Sources
- Rush-hour Crash Data → https://cdan.dot.gov/query
- Research Dataset → https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ylUdHxDRqoNKOy4nJpvjoHLyz90UXUfpdAJpr7CBgFo/edit?gid=0#gid=0
- Study by → www.kitchellaw.com
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
