A new traffic safety analysis from Omega Law Group of the five most populous U.S. states has found that nighttime driving is significantly more deadly than daytime travel, with 58% of all traffic fatalities occurring after dark between 2019 and 2023.
The whitepaper, which examines crash data from California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania, reveals that while Americans are driving slightly fewer miles overall than before the COVID-19 pandemic, the danger of nighttime driving has remained stubbornly—and disproportionately—high.
Between 2019 and 2023, there were 40,353 nighttime traffic deaths in these five states, compared to 29,182 daytime fatalities. The deadliest year was 2021, when nighttime crashes killed 8,852 people, coinciding with a broader spike in risky driving behaviors that emerged during the pandemic.
“Most drivers think of night driving as just ‘regular driving, but darker,’” said [Spokesperson Name], [Title] at [Firm Name]. “But the data shows something very different: after dark, the combination of reduced visibility, fatigue, alcohol use, and speeding turns the roads into a much higher-risk environment.”
Pandemic-Era Habits, Post-Pandemic Risk
The study tracks how the pandemic reshaped U.S. driving patterns. In 2020, total vehicle miles traveled dropped by 11% nationwide—from 3.26 trillion miles in 2019 to 2.9 trillion—as lockdowns and remote work sharply reduced commuting.
Yet even with fewer cars on the road, deadly crashes increased.
Fatal crashes across the five states rose from 11,544 in 2019 to 12,310 in 2020, and then to a peak of 13,970 in 2021. Nighttime fatalities followed the same pattern, reflecting a troubling shift: emptier roads led to more speeding, more impaired driving, and less seatbelt use, especially after dark.
By 2023, fatal crashes had declined somewhat (to 12,950) but still remained 12.2% higher than in 2019, suggesting that many of the “new” riskier driving habits have persisted.
Alcohol, Speeding, and Distraction Hit Hardest After Dark
The whitepaper also highlights three behaviors that drive a large share of fatal crashes—especially at night:
- Alcohol-impaired driving:
Across the five states, 32% of all traffic deaths between 2019 and 2023 involved a driver with a BAC over .08. Alcohol-related fatalities rose from 4,353 in 2019 to 5,833 in 2023—a 34% increase, with many of these occurring during late evening and nighttime hours. - Speeding:
Speed-related deaths jumped from 3,237 in 2019 to 4,474 in 2021, a 38% increase. Texas and California consistently posted the highest speeding-fatality numbers, especially at night on high-speed roads and interstates. - Distracted driving:
Distracted-driving deaths climbed from 946 in 2019 to 1,106 in 2022, before easing slightly to 1,018 in 2023. Texas led all five states in distracted driving deaths every year, with long, late-night highway stretches contributing to the problem.
“After dark, every bad habit behind the wheel becomes more dangerous,” [Last Name] added. “If you’re speeding, tired, looking at your phone, or driving after drinking—even a ‘short drive home’ can become deadly very quickly.”
Who Is Most at Risk After Dark?
The study finds that drivers aged 25 to 34 are the most dangerous age group on the road, leading in alcohol-impaired, speeding, and distracted-driving fatalities. When combined with drivers aged 35 to 44, this 25–44 age bracket accounts for the majority of risky-behavior-related fatal crashes.
Men are also disproportionately represented. Of the 69,944 total traffic deaths studied, 73% were male (50,973 fatalities), confirming long-standing concerns about higher-risk driving among men, particularly during nighttime hours.
A Call for Better Nighttime Safety
The report concludes that campaigns focused on “don’t drink and drive” and “put the phone down” remain essential—but must be explicitly targeted at nighttime risk, particularly for young and middle-aged drivers.
Simple interventions can save lives, including:
- Avoiding late-night driving after drinking—even if you “feel okay.”
- Reducing speeds at night, especially on rural roads and highways
- Minimizing distractions: no texting, scrolling, or adjusting apps while moving
- Planning safer rides home in advance (designated driver, rideshare, or taxi)
“The biggest misconception is that nighttime crashes are just bad luck,” said a spokesperson for Omega Law Group. “They aren’t. They’re overwhelmingly tied to preventable behaviors, especially after dark. If we can change habits at night, we can save thousands of lives.”
