The Most Dangerous States to Drive in this Halloween – California Leads Nation in Fatal Crashes in October, Study Reveals

This article is courtesy of Fruity King.

• California tops the list with 1,811 fatal crashes in October over five years – more than four times the national average.
• Texas comes in second with 1,715 crashes during the same period, nearly four times higher than the national figure.
• Vermont sees the biggest seasonal spike, with 12.1% of its yearly crashes happening in October – the highest share of any state.

As kids head out trick-or-treating and families travel for parties, October turns into one of the riskiest months for drivers – especially for those driving in California and Texas, a new study by Fruity King shows.

Researchers examined five years of federal fatal crash data to uncover where drivers face the greatest risks – and where Halloween night on the roads can be especially deadly.

Top 10 most dangerous states for Halloween driving (2019 – 2023):

Rank	State	Fatal crashes in October	October share of state’s total crashes	Percentage above national October average
1	California	1,811	9.4%	417%
2	Texas	1,715	9.2%	390%
3	Florida	1,379	8.6%	294%
4	Georgia	753	9.7%	115%
5	North Carolina	649	8.9%	85%
6	Illinois	558	10.1%	59%
7	Tennessee	554	9.5%	58%
8	Pennsylvania	533	9.8%	52%
9	Ohio	531	9.2%	52%
10	Arizona	503	9.4%	44%

California has been named the most dangerous state for drivers during Halloween, with 1,811 fatal crashes recorded in October across a five-year period. That figure makes up 9.4% of all fatal crashes in the state – nearly one in ten – and is a staggering 417% above the national October average of around 350 crashes.

Texas isn’t far behind, recording 1,715 fatal crashes during October. That’s 9.2% of its annual total and 390% above the national average. With its vast highways and high traffic volumes, the Lone Star State is almost as perilous as California once Halloween night rolls around.

Florida takes third place, with 1,379 October fatalities. The number accounts for 8.6% of its yearly total, and while the percentage is slightly lower than California and Texas, it’s still 294% higher than the national average. In short, Florida drivers are far from safe when Halloween celebrations begin.

Georgia ranks fourth, with 753 deadly crashes in October – nearly 10% of its yearly total. That’s 115% higher than the national average, meaning drivers here face more than double the national risk of a fatal accident.

North Carolina comes in fifth, with 649 fatal crashes recorded in October. This figure makes up 8.9% of the state’s yearly crashes and puts it 85% above the national average, highlighting just how dangerous October driving can be in the state.

Illinois lands in sixth place, with 558 fatal crashes in October. The number itself is smaller than the top five, but it represents 10.1% of the state’s yearly total – one of the highest shares nationwide – and is 59% higher than the national average.

Tennessee follows closely in seventh with 554 fatal October crashes. That’s 9.5% of the state’s yearly total and 58% higher than the national average, showing that even outside the big coastal states, Halloween can be an especially risky time to drive.

Pennsylvania takes the eighth spot, logging 533 crashes in October. That works out to 9.8% of the state’s yearly fatalities and 52% above the national average. From busy city streets to rural backroads, drivers across the state face added risks during Halloween.

Ohio comes in ninth with 531 fatal October crashes. That’s 9.2% of its annual total and, like Pennsylvania, 52% above the national average. Halloween clearly adds extra danger for drivers in the Buckeye State.

Rounding out the top ten is Arizona, with 503 October crashes – 9.4% of its yearly total and 44% above the national average. While smaller than the big coastal states, the data shows that even in the Southwest, Halloween night is no time for drivers to let their guard down.

The states with the lowest Halloween driving fatalities (2019 – 2023):

Rank	State	Fatal crashes in October	October share of state’s total crashes	Percentage below national October average
1	Alaska	24	7.8%	93%
2	Rhode Island	25	8.4%	93%
3	Hawaii	36	7.6%	90%
4	Vermont	37	12.1%	89%
5	North Dakota	42	9.1%	88%

The study also identified states with the lowest number of fatal crashes during October.

On the other end of the scale, Alaska is the safest state, with just 24 fatal crashes in October over five years. That’s only 7.8% of its yearly total and a massive 93% below the national October average.

Rhode Island comes next with 25 October crashes. Despite accounting for 8.4% of its annual total, the overall number is tiny – also 93% lower than the national average.

In third is Hawaii, which recorded 36 fatal crashes in October. That’s 7.6% of its annual total, the lowest proportion nationwide, and 90% below the national average.

Vermont places fourth, with 37 fatal October crashes. While the raw number is small, they represent 12.1% of the state’s annual total – the highest share in the country. Still, the total number of crashes is 89% below the national average.

North Dakota rounds out the five safest states, with 42 fatal October crashes. That’s 9.1% of its yearly total and 88% lower than the national October average.

The study revealed that some states experience a disproportionately high percentage of their yearly fatal crashes in October.

Vermont leads with 12.1% of its yearly crashes occurring in October, followed by Utah at 11.2% and South Dakota also at 11.2%. Conversely, Hawaii has the lowest proportion at 7.6%, with Alaska at 7.8% and New Hampshire at 8.1%.

A spokesperson at Fruity King commented on the findings, “The statistics released today show that October is a particularly dangerous month for drivers in many states, with California, Texas, and Florida seeing dramatically higher numbers of fatal crashes. These findings highlight the increased risks around Halloween when there are more pedestrians, especially children, on the streets during evening hours.

“Drivers should exercise additional caution during this time, particularly in states with higher crash rates. This includes reducing speed in residential areas, avoiding distracted driving, and being especially vigilant during peak trick-or-treating hours. The unprecedented increase in pedestrian activity combined with potential visibility issues after dark creates a perfect storm for traffic incidents.”

Methodology:

This study analyzes data from the Department of Transportation’s Crash Data and Analysis Network (https://cdan.dot.gov/query) for a five-year period starting from 2019 to determine which states are the most dangerous in terms of fatal motor vehicle crashes in October.

Full state rankings

Rank	State	Fatal crashes in October	October share of state’s total crashes	Percentage above national October average
1	California	1,811	9.4%	417%
2	Texas	1,715	9.2%	390%
3	Florida	1,379	8.6%	294%
4	Georgia	753	9.7%	115%
5	North Carolina	649	8.9%	85%
6	Illinois	558	10.1%	59%
7	Tennessee	554	9.5%	58%
8	Pennsylvania	533	9.8%	52%
9	Ohio	531	9.2%	52%
10	Arizona	503	9.4%	44%
11	New York	481	9.5%	37%
12	South Carolina	473	9.5%	35%
13	Michigan	467	9.2%	33%
14	Missouri	433	9.6%	24%
15	Virginia	426	10.0%	22%
16	Indiana	416	9.9%	19%
17	Alabama	411	9.3%	17%
18	Louisiana	384	9.8%	10%
19	Kentucky	327	9.2%	-7%
20	Mississippi	317	9.7%	-9%
21	Oklahoma	310	9.8%	-11%
22	Colorado	308	9.9%	-12%
23	New Jersey	306	10.4%	-13%
24	Wisconsin	286	10.4%	-18%
25	Washington	281	9.1%	-20%
26	Arkansas	264	9.4%	-25%
27	Maryland	263	9.8%	-25%
28	Oregon	237	9.3%	-32%
29	Minnesota	188	9.7%	-46%
30	Kansas	182	9.9%	-48%
31	New Mexico	172	8.7%	-51%
32	Nevada	159	9.4%	-55%
33	Massachusetts	151	8.5%	-57%
34	Utah	148	11.2%	-58%
35	Iowa	134	8.5%	-62%
36	Connecticut	130	9.1%	-63%
37	West Virginia	120	9.7%	-66%
38	Idaho	111	10.4%	-68%
39	Nebraska	103	9.9%	-71%
40	Montana	90	9.4%	-74%
41	Maine	73	10.0%	-79%
42	South Dakota	67	11.2%	-81%
43	Delaware	63	10.0%	-82%
44	Wyoming	48	8.3%	-86%
45	New Hampshire	45	8.1%	-87%
46	North Dakota	42	9.1%	-88%
47	Vermont	37