The economic impact of U.S. traffic crashes exceeds $340 billion annually, according to federal estimates. A new analysis from John Foy & Associates explains how predictable, seasonal risk patterns, especially October’s recent rise to the deadliest month, offer states a practical roadmap to save lives and reduce costs fast.
Using NHTSA datasets, the analysis documents 37,654 fatal crashes and 40,901 deaths in 2023. October recorded 3,505 fatal crashes, 12% above the monthly average (3,138), pushing fall (10,002 fatalities) within a hair of summer (10,017) for the most dangerous season. February remained the low point with 2,645 fatal crashes, about 20% below average.
“October isn’t just another fall month—it’s now the most lethal on our roads,” said a spokesperson for John Foy & Associates. “If agencies prepare for October like they prepare for July 4th, we’ll see an immediate return in lives saved and dollars preserved.”
Why October? Darkness, Weather, and Volume
The report cites the Daylight Saving Time shift, with abrupt evening darkness, cooler, wetter pavement, and holiday-adjacent travel as key contributors. In 2023, California posted 361 speeding-related deaths in October, the highest monthly speeding death toll recorded by any state that year.
The Behavior Engine: 66% of Fatal Crashes
Three modifiable behaviors dominate:
- Alcohol impairment: 11,222 crashes (about 30% of monthly fatality shares), the highest monthly count in July (1,065).
- Speeding: 10,541 fatal crashes, peaking in July (1,014), May (973), and August (971).
- Distraction: 3,041 fatal crashes, with spikes in May (299), July (291), and August (285).
Spring Break = March Red Flag
March brought a marked increase in fatalities nationally—~9% above winter averages—with Florida recording 72 alcohol-related fatalities that month alone. Similar elevations were observed in California and Texas, reflecting vacation travel, youthful drivers, and alcohol-centric events.
Texas: The Outlier
In 2023, Texas led the nation in both alcohol-impaired (1,510) and speeding-related (1,219) deaths. August was Texas’s deadliest month, with 141 alcohol-related crashes and 349 speeding fatalities. Nearly one-quarter of Texas’s annual traffic deaths clustered in that single month, underscoring the value of month-specific enforcement and heat-related fatigue messaging.
Georgia: A Mirror of National Trends
Georgia’s patterns tracked the national picture, with 1,491 speeding-related fatalities and summer-to-early-fall spikes in alcohol-involved crashes. The state’s risk profile intensified around school returns, holiday weekends, and evening commuter darkness in October/November, prime windows for targeted intervention.
The Fiscal Case for Seasonal Safety
With $340+ billion in annual crash costs—healthcare, emergency response, lost productivity, and infrastructure damage—the study recommends states mount high-ROI, time-bound campaigns:
- October Operations Plan: Evening DUI and speed enforcement; “dark commute” PSAs; visibility checkpoints on high-injury corridors.
- August Heat & Travel Surge (TX focus): Fatigue stops, work-zone slowdowns, and aggressive speed control on intermetropolitan corridors.
- Spring Break Strategy (FL, TX, CA): Campus and airport geotargeting; rental-car inserts; rideshare discount partnerships.
- Back-to-School Enforcement (Aug–Sept): School-zone and arterial speed details; teen driver distraction campaigns.
- Data-Driven Deployment: Weekly re-allocation of patrols based on county-level trendlines; align with event calendars and weather forecasts.
“The good news is timing is predictable,” the firm added. “When states aim resources at the right weeks, the benefit is immediate, fewer funerals, fewer hospital beds, and fewer taxpayer dollars burned.”
For Georgians Affected by Serious Collisions
John Foy & Associates encourages crash victims and families to understand their rights and options for recovery. The firm provides free consultations and works to hold negligent parties accountable, particularly where impaired, speeding, or distracted driving is involved.
