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Do Summer Roads Really Have More Serious Car Crashes?

It might go against common sense, but national and state-level data confirms it: roads are actually more dangerous in summer than they are in winter.   

Editorial still life of toy cars in a multi-vehicle crash surrounded by a smartphone, sunglasses, sunscreen, car keys, and summer travel items, symbolizing the hidden dangers of distracted summer driving.

If you’re used to driving in winter weather, you know you need to go slow. You’re intimately familiar with the dangers of black ice and poor visibility, but did you know the warm weather and clear roads actually make it more likely you’ll get into a serious car crash?  

That’s because as the weather warms, more people hit the road. They’re also driving faster, are more likely to be impaired, and come into contact with cyclists and pedestrians. In fact, the period between Memorial and Labor Days is known as the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers.1 

The prospect of a serious car crash can be scary, and if you’ve been involved in one, you should seek the help of a serious car crash lawyer right away. In this article we explore what makes summer roads so dangerous, how you can protect yourself while on your summer adventures, and what to do if you or a loved one is seriously injured.

Frequency vs. Severity: What the Data Says About Summer Roads

Winter weather in the Northeast might result in more frequent crashes and collisions, like fender benders. But the people involved in winter car crashes tend to walk away with fewer severe injuries than they do during the summer months. In this section, we’ll walk you through the data around summer car crashes, just in case you are not convinced that summer roads really are that dangerous.

The National Numbers Around Summer Driving 

The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported that nationwide, the most traffic-related deaths occur between July and September. In 2024, the most recent year for which we have confirmed data, these were the traffic-related deaths recorded for the first and third quarters: 

  • January-March: 8,595 
  • July- September: 10,5652

There were almost 2,000 more deaths on summer roads nationwide than in the heart of winter. When we look at data specific to Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, we see that car crash statistics from these states follow the national trend. 

Car Crashes on Connecticut Summer Roads 

In 2024, the most recent year with verified data, there were 53% more traffic-related fatalities and 157% more traffic-related serious injuries in summertime in Connecticut than there were during winter.3 Here are the actual numbers for the year:

  • Spring: 63 traffic-related fatalities, 290 serious injuries 
  • Summer: 116 traffic-related fatalities, 587 serious injuries 
  • Fall: 81 traffic-related fatalities, 335 serious injuries 
  • Winter: 76 traffic-related fatalities, 228 serious injuries4 

Car Crashes on New York Summer Roads

In New York, June, July and August consistently rank as deadliest months on New York roads. In 2024, there were 1,090 traffic-related fatalities in New York state and 12,743 serious injuries,5 34% of these occurred in the summer months, almost twice as many as occurred during winter.6  

Car Crashes on Pennsylvania Summer Roads

According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), summer crashes are more likely to be serious or fatal than those that occur in winter. In 2024, Pennsylvania had 1,127 traffic-related deaths,7 almost a third of which occurred in the summer months.8 

Car Crashes West Virginia Summer Roads

West Virginia ranked as the third-most dangerous state in the U.S. for summer driving, only behind Mississippi and Washington, D.C., with 65 summer deaths recorded in 2024.9 Even though it routinely records more car crashes in winter months, the prevalence of winding, two-lane roads leads to more fatalities in the summertime.  

5 Factors Make Summer Car Crashes More Serious

It should be a time of celebration and relaxation; a time to let loose and enjoy the sun. But the desire to be carefree can collide with several other conditions in summertime that create dangerous conditions on the road. 

The Tendency to Speed 

However treacherous, winter weather conditions force you to slow down while driving. The slower you go, the less damage you cause and the less likely you are to suffer a serious injury should you crash your car. Clear weather can encourage you to go faster as you feel more confident and in control of your car. When you collide with another car, person, or object while traveling at high speeds, you and others involved in the crash are more likely to sustain serious injuries.  

There are More Teen Car Accidents 

The American Automobile Association (AAA) defines the period of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers because this is the time when the most traffic-related deaths involving teenage drivers occur. In summer, 23% more people die per day in teen-involved driving crashes, than they do the rest of the year.10 There are many reasons for this: 

  1. Teens are out of school and driving more. 
  2. Teens spend more time unsupervised during the summer months. 
  1. Teens engage in more late-night socializing. 
  1. Teens are inexperienced drivers and can make costly mistakes.   
  1. Teens are more likely to be distracted while driving.  

There are More Vulnerable Road Users 

Nice weather brings out more bicyclists and motorcyclists. These types of road users are more vulnerable than drivers and passengers in cars because they’re unprotected and they can be easy to miss while making a turn or changing lanes. When car crashes involve bicyclists and motorcyclists, they almost always result in serious injuries or fatalities. And crashes involving bicyclists11 and motorcyclists12 peak in summertime.

Celebrations Lead to Impaired and Drowsy Driving 

Summertime comes with lots of reasons to celebrate. Beyond the 4th of July and Labor Day, there are festivals, beach trips, summer gatherings, road trips, and more. All these festivities correlate to a spike in DUI crashes and drowsy driving. Even if you’re driving responsibly, you are likely sharing the road with other drivers who aren’t. 

An Influx of Tourists Driving Unfamiliar Roads

If you live in a popular summertime destination, or you’re planning to travel to one, this factor will affect your safety on the road. It can be difficult to drive while you’re trying to watch your navigation update, and if you’re driving at night, looking for street signs in dimly lit areas can cause you to slow down unexpectedly or turn suddenly. In addition, navigating winding roads can be treacherous if you’re going too fast and aren’t familiar with the curve of each turn in the road.

Hot Weather Weakens Tires and Can Lead to Breakdowns 

Hot weather causes the air inside your tires to expand, which can cause your tires to lose traction and cause uneven tread wear. In addition, extreme heat and UV rays can more rapidly break down the rubber in the tires, increasing the risk of blowouts.High temperatures can also lead to cars overheating more easily. 

How to Stay Safe on Summer Roads 

You can’t control the behavior of other drivers, but you can make sure you’re being as safe as you possibly can. Here are some tips to keep you safe as you navigate summer roads as both a driver and pedestrian. 

Slow Down 

Even if the cars around you are driving fast, driving the speed limit helps to ensure you have enough time to react if another driver makes a mistake or if a pedestrian or motorcyclist seems to appear out of nowhere.

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

This goes for drivers and pedestrians alike. Before you make a turn or change lanes, before you cross a street, always make sure you’re aware of what the other people around you are doing.  

Take the Earbuds Out of Your Ears 

We get it, listening to music or a podcast can make your walk or jog even more enjoyable. But you can often hear danger before you see it. So if you’re walking or jogging in an area with heavy traffic, keeping your ears free can help keep you safe.

Only Drive While You’re Sober and Alert

If you’re feeling drowsy on a long drive, pull over and rest. If you’ve been to a party and had a few alcoholic beverages, call for a ride. The inconvenience is a better alternative to seriously injuring or killing another person.

If you have a teen driver, make sure they understand road safety and don’t engage in unsupervised driving until they’re ready.

Check Your Tire Pressure in the Heat

A tire that’s properly inflated on a cool morning can become overinflated by midday as temperatures rise, especially if it’s had constant contact with the road. Check your tire pressure in the morning before driving to get an idea of your tires’ true baseline, then check again after a long driving stint.

If your tires are overinflated, it might be prudent to take a break to let them cool down. If you’re not able to check your tire pressure, driving slower can help prevent blowouts. 

What to Do If You Are Injured in a Summer Car Accident

Even if you’ve exercised every caution, you might still experience a serious car accident. If that’s the case, these are the steps you need to take to protect your health and your case.

  • Step 1: Seek immediate medical attention. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline can mask serious injuries. 
  • Step 2: Notify your insurance company. Send them all the documentation you have. Don’t speak to the other driver’s insurance company before you’ve spoken with a serious car crash lawyer. 
  • Step 3: Call a serious car crash lawyer. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better. We’ll handle the insurance companies on your behalf, protect your rights, and help you get what you need to recover.  
  • Step 4: Don’t post on social media about the crash. Posting incomplete information about the car crash can be used against you and prevent you from recovering the compensation you deserve.  
  • Step 5: Don’t settle too soon. Insurance companies often try to pressure you to settle before the full extent of your injuries are known. This can result in a lower payout than you deserve. Make sure you speak with a serious car crash lawyer before you sign anything. 

Use Caution While on the Road This Summer, It Could Save Your Life

Summer is a time to kick back and enjoy the sun and your loved ones. Just make sure that when you’re on the road, you’re alert and employing safe driving habits so that you can continue to savor the freedom this season has to offer. If you or a loved one has been injured in a serious car crash this summer, reach out to Chaffin Luhana today. We’ll listen first. Then if we can help, we will.  

Resources

  1. “The 100 Deadliest Days: Teen Driver Deaths Jump in Summer Months,” Kellan Howell, AAA, https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/05/the-100-deadliest-days-teen-driver-deaths-jump-in-summer-months/. 
  2. Traffic Safety Facts, U.S. Department of Transportation, April 2025, https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813710. 
  3. As Summer Travel Increases, So Do Safety Risks on Connecticut Roads, Connecticut Transportation, June 18, 2026, https://portal.ct.gov/dot/ctdot-press-releases/2026/as-summer-travel-increases-safety-risks-rise-on-ct-roads?language=en_US.
  4. Connecticut Crash Data Repository, UCONN, https://www.ctcrash.uconn.edu/dashboards/CEA.html. 
  5. New York State Fact Sheet- Crashes Involving a Drinking Driver, Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, https://www.itsmr.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/NYS_FactSheet_Crashes_Involving_DrinkingDriver_Published_Dec_2025.pdf.
  6. “Summer Road Trips Mean More Traffic Deaths”, Insurance Institute for Traffic Safety, https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/summer-road-trips-mean-more-traffic-deaths. 
  7. Fatality Facts 2024 State by State, https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state. 
  8. Nathan Paulus, “America’s 100 Deadliest Driving Days: 10 States Got Worse While Summer Traffic Deaths Fell 8.1%”, Money Geek, 4/16/2026, https://www.moneygeek.com/living/driving/100-deadliest-days-summer-traffic . 
  9. Nick Jachim, “West Virginia Has Some of the Most Dangerous Roads in Summer: Study”, WBOY, 4/2026, https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia/west-virginia-has-some-of-the-most-dangerous-roads-in-summer-study/. 
  10. Kellan Howell, ”The 100 Deadliest Days: Teen Deaths Jump in Summer Months”, AAA Newsroom, 5/29/2025, https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/05/the-100-deadliest-days-teen-driver-deaths-jump-in-summer-months/.
  11. ”Fatality Facts 2024, Bicyclists”, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/bicyclists.
  12. ”Fatality Facts 2024, Motorcyclists and ATVS”, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/motorcycles-and-atvs#when-and-where-they-died.