Fall and winter bring the fewest daylight hours of the year, just as holiday travel and shopping traffic fill the roads. In Texas and New Mexico, that combination often increases the number of car accidents once the sun sets. Understanding why may help you stay safer during your evening drives.
Evening rush hour traffic creates the first spike
As the sun sets, many drivers head home at the same time. Congested roads and stop-and-go traffic raise the likelihood of a collision. Once darkness settles in, conditions behind the wheel deteriorate, and the risk climbs even higher.
Dark roads without lighting make fatal crashes more likely in New Mexico
New Mexico’s 2024 annual crash report indicates that crashes on dark roads without street lighting are more likely to prove fatal. These conditions accounted for 11.1% of all crashes but 35.3% of fatal crashes.
Three Texas cities rank among the nation’s highest for nighttime fatality rates
A study reported by the Star-Telegram ranks Corpus Christi, Fort Worth and Austin among the 10 U.S. cities with the highest nighttime fatality rates. Corpus Christi ranks second at 74.10%, Fort Worth fifth at 72.19%, and Austin eighth at 71.23%.
Night driving brings added hazards
Darkness limits how far ahead you can see. Headlights from oncoming vehicles can create glare, and street lighting often varies considerably from one stretch of road to the next. The National Safety Council reports that drivers complete about one-quarter of their driving at night, yet roughly half of traffic deaths occur then.
You are also more likely to share the road with fatigued or impaired drivers. Drowsy driving crashes occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon, and impaired drivers appear most often on the road after dark. Rain, fog or slick roads can intensify every one of these problems.
Extra caution after dark may help protect you
Night driving carries significant risks, from rush hour congestion to limited visibility and fatigued or impaired drivers. Maintaining extra alertness after sunset, especially during the holiday season, may help you avoid a crash.
If you are in an accident, it may help to consult a Texas or New Mexico personal injury attorney about your options.