As the first day of fall, Sept. 22, approaches, collision repair shops across the U.S. are preparing for a spike in workload, according to new data showing autumn is the most accident-prone season in 39 states.
CARFAX data shows that more than 70% of U.S. drivers live in states where autumn generates more accidents than any other season. Among contributing factors: reduced daylight, slick roads from wet leaves, and more collisions involving deer during mating season.
States that saw the most crashes in autumn include California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Missouri and Wisconsin.
"Seasonal shifts can bring new risks on the road, making this a good time to slow down, stay alert, and check for maintenance or open recalls to ensure the safety of the vehicle and everyone on the road," said Faisal Hasan, vice president of data acquisition at CARFAX.
For collision repair shops, those conditions translate into increased accident frequency, potentially more complex damage, and a compression of repair work into a shorter time window as weather deteriorates.
Why Fall Has So Many Accidents
Diminishing daylight: Fall means shorter days and more time driving in the dark. Drivers are twice as likely to have an accident in the dark as they are in daylight. About half of all U.S. accidents happen in the dark, despite fewer drivers out after dusk, according to the National Safety Council. Less visibility also means slower reaction time.
Slick surfaces: Tree debris and wet leaves on the roadway can pose a major risk. Braking on wet leaves can make a car travel more than twice as far as braking on a dry road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Deer danger: More deer crashes occur in the last few months of the year, due to mating season and migration, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute.
Winter is still hazardous, marking the season with the highest number of accidents in six states: Connecticut, Oklahoma, Vermont, New Hampshire, Montana and North Dakota. By comparison, summer sees the most accidents in Hawaii, Washington and Oregon, while in Pennsylvania and Florida, the most dangerous season is spring.
