From Strype Injury Lawyers
Summary: A study of federal crash data from 2020–2024 found that Florida recorded the nation’s third-highest number of fatal crashes in October, with 1,397. Researchers highlight Halloween pedestrian activity and shorter daylight hours as reasons drivers should take extra precautions.
As kids head out trick-or-treating and families travel for parties, October turns into one of the riskiest months for drivers – with California and Texas recording the most fatal crashes during the month, a new study by Strype Injury Lawyers shows.
Researchers examined five years of federal fatal crash data, from 2020 to 2024, to uncover where October accounts for the greatest number of fatal crashes as Halloween approaches.
Nationally, 9.49% of fatal crashes happened during October. Across the 50 states, 17,945 fatal October crashes were recorded over the five years, giving an average of 358.9 per state. Each state’s October count was compared with this figure to see how far above or below the average it fell.
Top 10 states with the highest October fatal crash counts:
| Rank |
State |
Fatal crashes in October |
Total fatal crashes |
October share |
Percentage above or below average October count per state |
| 1 |
California |
1,837 |
19,496 |
9.42% |
+411.8% |
| 2 |
Texas |
1,769 |
19,209 |
9.21% |
+392.9% |
| 3 |
Florida |
1,397 |
15,959 |
8.75% |
+289.2% |
| 4 |
Georgia |
774 |
7,673 |
10.09% |
+115.7% |
| 5 |
North Carolina |
656 |
7,453 |
8.80% |
+82.8% |
| 6 |
Illinois |
581 |
5,671 |
10.25% |
+61.9% |
| 7 |
Tennessee |
561 |
5,874 |
9.55% |
+56.3% |
| 8 |
Pennsylvania |
551 |
5,498 |
10.02% |
+53.5% |
| 9 |
Ohio |
539 |
5,802 |
9.29% |
+50.2% |
| 10 |
Arizona |
526 |
5,558 |
9.46% |
+46.6% |
California recorded 1,837 fatal crashes during October, giving it the highest count in the country. The state recorded 19,496 across the five years studied, putting its October share at 9.42%. Its October count is 411.8% above the average across states.
Second place goes to Texas, where October accounted for 1,769 fatal crashes, or 9.21% of the total. Its October count is 392.9% above the average across states. There are 68 crashes separating it from California.
In third is Florida, which recorded 1,397 fatal crashes during October. While the raw number is the third-highest nationwide, it represents 8.75% of the state’s total. Its October count is 289.2% above the average across states.
Georgia takes fourth place with 774 fatal crashes during the month and an October share of 10.09%. Its October count is 115.7% above the average across states and the fourth-highest nationally, after California, Texas and Florida.
Fifth place goes to North Carolina, with 656 October crashes, accounting for 8.80% of its total. Its October count is 82.8% above the average across states, while its share is only slightly higher than West Virginia’s and below neighboring South Carolina’s 9.70%.
The October count falls to 581 in Illinois, which takes sixth place with a share of 10.25%. Its October count is 61.9% above the average across states.
Tennessee recorded 561 fatal October crashes, slightly more than Pennsylvania. Against its five-year total of 5,874, that works out at 9.55%, placing it seventh by count. Its October count is 56.3% above the average across states.
With 551 fatal October crashes, Pennsylvania takes eighth place. They account for 10.02% of its total of 5,498, with its October count 53.5% higher than the average across states.
In Ohio, 539 of the state’s 5,802 fatal crashes occurred during October. Its count puts it ninth and 50.2% above the average across states, while its October share is 9.29%.
Arizona completes the top ten with 526 fatal October crashes. Its October share is 9.46%, while its October count is 46.6% above the average across states.
The states with the lowest October fatal crash counts:
| Rank |
State |
Fatal crashes in October |
Total fatal crashes |
October share |
Percentage above or below average October count per state |
| 1 |
Alaska |
24 |
310 |
7.74% |
-93.3% |
| 2 |
Rhode Island |
25 |
293 |
8.53% |
-93.0% |
| 3 |
Vermont |
33 |
316 |
10.44% |
-90.8% |
| 4 |
Hawaii |
40 |
471 |
8.49% |
-88.9% |
| 5 |
North Dakota |
45 |
457 |
9.85% |
-87.5% |
| 6 |
New Hampshire |
49 |
580 |
8.45% |
-86.3% |
| 7 |
Wyoming |
52 |
557 |
9.34% |
-85.5% |
| 8 |
Delaware |
61 |
628 |
9.71% |
-83.0% |
| 9 |
South Dakota |
63 |
646 |
9.75% |
-82.4% |
| 10 |
Maine |
78 |
751 |
10.39% |
-78.3% |
The study also identified states with the lowest number of fatal crashes during October.
On the other end of the scale, Alaska has the lowest October count, with 24 fatal crashes over five years. That’s 7.74% of its total, the smallest proportion nationwide, while its October count is 93.3% below the average across states.
Rhode Island comes next, with 25 fatal crashes during the month. That’s 8.53% of its total, while its raw October count is the second-lowest in the country and 93.0% below the average across states.
Third place goes to Vermont, where 33 of the 316 fatal crashes recorded over five years happened in October. It’s the third-lowest October count in the country, but still makes up 10.44% of the state’s total. Its October count is 90.8% below the average across states.
Hawaii places fourth, with 40 fatal October crashes. They represent 8.49% of the state’s total, just above New Hampshire’s share, while its October count is 88.9% below the average across states.
North Dakota completes the bottom five, with 45 fatal crashes during the month. That’s 9.85% of its total, with its October count 87.5% below the average across states.
In sixth is New Hampshire, which recorded 49 fatal crashes in October. That’s 8.45% of its total, compared with 10.44% in neighboring Vermont, while its October count is 86.3% below the average across states.
Wyoming takes seventh place, with 52 fatal October crashes. That works out to 9.34% of its total, with its October count 85.5% below the average across states.
In eighth is Delaware, which recorded 61 fatal crashes during October. They represent 9.71% of the state’s total, with its October count 83.0% below the average across states.
South Dakota comes in ninth with 63 fatal October crashes. That’s 9.75% of its total of 646, while its October count is 82.4% below the average across states.
Another New England state follows. In Maine, 78 of the 751 fatal crashes happened during October, putting it tenth among the lowest counts with a share of 10.39%. Its October count is 78.3% lower than the average across states.
In terms of numbers, California recorded the most fatal crashes in October, at 1,837, with Texas next at 1,769, and Florida at 1,397. None makes the top ten by share, though. October accounted for 9.42% of California’s fatal crashes and 9.21% of those in Texas, putting them 33rd and 38th by share. Florida was further down in 43rd place by share at 8.75%, despite having the third-highest October total.
Jeffrey Strype, Managing Partner at Strype Injury Lawyers, commented on the findings, “What makes October particularly dangerous is the combination of shorter daylight hours and a sharp increase in pedestrian activity around Halloween. With Florida among the states recording the highest October crash count in the country, the findings are a timely reminder to watch carefully for pedestrians, especially children, on the streets during evening hours.
“Drivers should exercise additional caution during this time. This includes reducing speed in residential areas, avoiding distracted driving and being especially vigilant during trick-or-treating hours. Children may step into the road unexpectedly, so take extra care around parked cars, intersections and driveways, even on routes you know well.
“Anyone heading to a Halloween party should arrange a sober ride home before leaving. For families out trick-or-treating, use sidewalks and crosswalks where possible, and remind children to stop and look before crossing between houses. These are simple precautions, but taking a little extra care can help everyone enjoy the evening and get home safely.”
Source & Methodology:
This study analyzes data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System for the five-year period from 2020 to 2024 to determine which states have the highest number of fatal motor vehicle crashes in October.
The 50 states were ranked by their total fatal crashes in October. October crashes were also divided by each state’s total fatal crashes across the same period to calculate its October share. Figures count crashes rather than the number of people killed and cover the whole month.
The average October count was calculated by dividing the 17,945 fatal October crashes across the 50 states by 50, giving 358.9 per state over the five-year period. Percentage differences were calculated as each state’s October count minus 358.9, divided by 358.9, multiplied by 100. These comparisons use crash counts and are not adjusted for population or traffic volume.
Full state rankings
| Rank |
State |
Fatal crashes in October |
Total fatal crashes |
October share |
Percentage above or below average October count per state |
| 1 |
California |
1,837 |
19,496 |
9.42% |
+411.8% |
| 2 |
Texas |
1,769 |
19,209 |
9.21% |
+392.9% |
| 3 |
Florida |
1,397 |
15,959 |
8.75% |
+289.2% |
| 4 |
Georgia |
774 |
7,673 |
10.09% |
+115.7% |
| 5 |
North Carolina |
656 |
7,453 |
8.80% |
+82.8% |
| 6 |
Illinois |
581 |
5,671 |
10.25% |
+61.9% |
| 7 |
Tennessee |
561 |
5,874 |
9.55% |
+56.3% |
| 8 |
Pennsylvania |
551 |
5,498 |
10.02% |
+53.5% |
| 9 |
Ohio |
539 |
5,802 |
9.29% |
+50.2% |
| 10 |
Arizona |
526 |
5,558 |
9.46% |
+46.6% |
| 11 |
New York |
501 |
5,238 |
9.56% |
+39.6% |
| 12 |
South Carolina |
487 |
5,019 |
9.70% |
+35.7% |
| 13 |
Michigan |
447 |
5,173 |
8.64% |
+24.5% |
| 14 |
Missouri |
438 |
4,594 |
9.53% |
+22.0% |
| 15 |
Virginia |
428 |
4,369 |
9.80% |
+19.3% |
| 16 |
Indiana |
426 |
4,222 |
10.09% |
+18.7% |
| 17 |
Alabama |
397 |
4,438 |
8.95% |
+10.6% |
| 18 |
Louisiana |
392 |
3,960 |
9.90% |
+9.2% |
| 19 |
Kentucky |
340 |
3,566 |
9.53% |
-5.3% |
| 20 |
Colorado |
333 |
3,219 |
10.34% |
-7.2% |
| 21 |
Mississippi |
326 |
3,371 |
9.67% |
-9.2% |
| 22 |
New Jersey |
325 |
3,067 |
10.60% |
-9.4% |
| 23 |
Oklahoma |
313 |
3,154 |
9.92% |
-12.8% |
| 24 |
Washington |
295 |
3,253 |
9.07% |
-17.8% |
| 25 |
Wisconsin |
292 |
2,749 |
10.62% |
-18.6% |
| 26 |
Arkansas |
283 |
2,894 |
9.78% |
-21.1% |
| 27 |
Maryland |
272 |
2,733 |
9.95% |
-24.2% |
| 28 |
Oregon |
254 |
2,590 |
9.81% |
-29.2% |
| 29 |
Minnesota |
198 |
2,033 |
9.74% |
-44.8% |
| 30 |
Nevada |
175 |
1,798 |
9.73% |
-51.2% |
| 31 |
Kansas |
174 |
1,793 |
9.70% |
-51.5% |
| 32 |
New Mexico |
162 |
1,996 |
8.12% |
-54.9% |
| 33 |
Massachusetts |
157 |
1,806 |
8.69% |
-56.3% |
| 34 |
Utah |
152 |
1,351 |
11.25% |
-57.6% |
| 35 |
Iowa |
150 |
1,598 |
9.39% |
-58.2% |
| 36 |
Connecticut |
139 |
1,478 |
9.40% |
-61.3% |
| 37 |
Idaho |
116 |
1,089 |
10.65% |
-67.7% |
| 38 |
West Virginia |
108 |
1,229 |
8.79% |
-69.9% |
| 39 |
Nebraska |
104 |
1,052 |
9.89% |
-71.0% |
| 40 |
Montana |
100 |
987 |
10.13% |
-72.1% |
| 41 |
Maine |
78 |
751 |
10.39% |
-78.3% |
| 42 |
South Dakota |
63 |
646 |
9.75% |
-82.4% |
| 43 |
Delaware |
61 |
628 |
9.71% |
-83.0% |
| 44 |
Wyoming |
52 |
557 |
9.34% |
-85.5% |
| 45 |
New Hampshire |
49 |
580 |
8.45% |
-86.3% |
| 46 |
North Dakota |
45 |
457 |
9.85% |
-87.5% |
| 47 |
Hawaii |
40 |
471 |
8.49% |
-88.9% |
| 48 |
Vermont |
33 |
316 |
10.44% |
-90.8% |
| 49 |
Rhode Island |
25 |
293 |
8.53% |
-93.0% |
| 50 |
Alaska |
24 |
310 |
7.74% |
-93.3% |
Key Points:
- Florida ranks third: The state recorded 1,397 fatal crashes in October over five years, behind California (1,837) and Texas (1,769).
- National findings: October accounted for 9.49% of fatal crashes nationwide during the study period.
- State rankings vary: Georgia and Illinois had some of the highest October shares of fatal crashes, at 10.09% and 10.25%, respectively.
- Halloween safety matters: Increased pedestrian activity and reduced daylight can create additional risks for drivers, especially around residential streets.
- Safety recommendations: Drivers should slow down, avoid distractions, watch for children near intersections and driveways, and arrange a sober ride after Halloween parties.
