After the sun sets, a new set of risks arises. From an increased risk of accidents due to lower visibility to the threat of theft or personal harm, nighttime safety is a concern for drivers and pedestrians alike.
According to data from the National Safety Council, in the spring and summer months, fatal vehicle crashes tend to peak between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. That time shifts a bit earlier as the year progresses and days get shorter, with the peak time for crashes from November through March sitting between 4 p.m. and 7:59 p.m.
Of course, there are precautions drivers can take when traveling at night to protect both themselves and any pedestrians they may encounter. The NSC suggests nighttime drivers consider the following:
- Aim headlights correctly and make sure they are clean
- Dim the car’s dashboard lights to improve visibility
- If the driver wears glasses, they should be anti-reflective
- Slow down to compensate for limited visibility
- Clean the car’s windshield to eliminate streaks that can block the driver’s vision when hit by another car’s headlights
A recent study from Future Bail Bonds utilized data from the FBI, NHTSA and Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine how safe each state in the U.S. is at night. The states they ranked as the most dangerous after dark were:
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- California
- Tennessee
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Washington
- Nevada
- Michigan
- Arizona
The rankings were determined using three core metrics: Robbery, aggravated assault and homicide rates; the number of law enforcement officers; and the percentage of fatal crashes that happen between 9 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. In the slideshow above, we'll look at the ten states Future Bail Bonds found to be the safest after dark.
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