The Deadliest Time to Drive in Montana Comes As a Surprise

Driving isn’t optional in Montana. It’s how we get to work, take the kids to practice, or head out for a weekend in Red Lodge or into the mountains just to breathe a little deeper. That’s why a new national study breaking down the deadliest times to be on the road feels especially relevant.

Researchers at Big Auto Accident Attorneys analyzed traffic fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, covering the years 2014 to 2023. Their goal: to pinpoint when drivers across the country face the greatest risk. For Montana, the results are sobering.

Montana’s Traffic Death Rate: Among the Nation’s Highest

Let’s start with the part that makes your stomach drop a bit. Montana ranks 7th most dangerous in the country for traffic fatalities over that ten-year span. There were 2,032 total fatalities here, with a rate of 1,778.17 deaths per one million residents. That is more than 60 percent higher than the national average. Only states like Mississippi, Wyoming, and New Mexico ranked worse.

READ MORE: The Six Scariest Roads to Drive in Montana 

Think about our roads for a moment: long stretches of highway, wide open country, and two-lane roads that seem to go on forever, with a whole lot of space between towns. It doesn’t take much for speed to creep up or for fatigue to settle in. We pride ourselves on freedom out here. Sometimes, though, that freedom comes with risk.

October: A Risky Time for Montana Drivers

Here’s something that might surprise you: October is the deadliest month for drivers nationwide, accounting for 35,664 fatalities over the study period. That’s 9.33 percent of all traffic deaths. In Montana, October means changing weather. One day it’s sunny and 65; the next, you’re scraping frost off your windshield at 6 in the morning.

It’s harvest season, hunting season, and football season. More people are on rural roads, with more early mornings and late nights. And sometimes, there’s that first unexpected patch of ice. It’s a reminder that fall can quickly turn into dangerous driving conditions.

Saturdays: The Most Dangerous Day to Drive

If you had to guess the most dangerous day of the week, you probably wouldn’t pick a random Tuesday. And you’d be right. Saturday accounts for 17.59 percent of all traffic deaths nationwide, making it the riskiest day to be on the road.

Think about what Saturdays look like here: long drives to visit family, heading out of town for a weekend trip, concerts, rodeos, weddings, and cabin weekends. More traffic. More distractions. And yes, sometimes more impaired driving. We tend to relax on Saturdays. Unfortunately, that relaxed mindset does not always mix well with highway speeds.

Evening Rush Hour: The Deadliest Time on the Road

You might assume the most dangerous time to drive is the middle of the night. But it’s not. The deadliest hour is between 6:00 p.m. and 6:59 p.m., which is rush hour. More than 22,000 fatalities occurred in that single hour over the ten-year period. That’s when you’re leaving work, picking up the kids, trying to beat the sunset. Maybe you’re tired or distracted. As dusk settles in, deer are moving, visibility shifts, and we’re all just trying to get home.

Fatal Crashes Often Happen in Good Conditions

Here’s the part that really makes you pause: over 71 percent of fatal crashes happened in clear weather, and nearly 47 percent happened in daylight. Not in snowstorms, heavy rain, or pitch-black darkness.

Clear skies. Normal days. That tells us something important: the biggest factor isn’t always the weather. It’s behavior: speed, distraction, not wearing a seatbelt, glancing at your phone for just a second, or thinking you’ve driven that same stretch of road a thousand times and nothing will happen.

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What Montanans Can Do to Stay Safe

No one wants to read statistics like this. They are heavy. They are uncomfortable. But they are also a wake-up call. Montana is beautiful. It is wild. It is wide open. And that is exactly why driving here demands respect. If you are heading out this weekend, especially on a Saturday evening, take an extra second. Slow down. Put the phone away. Watch for wildlife. Buckle up, even for that “short” drive. Because behind every number in that report is a family. A neighbor. A community. Drive safe, Montana.