Key takeaways
- Halloween falls on a Friday this year, overlapping with hazardous weekend driving hours.
- Allstate identified 10 of the riskiest road segments in major U.S. cities where speeding and hard braking peak between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekends.
- Safe driving habits can reduce risk and even help drivers save money with Allstate’s Drivewise.
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 15, 2025 – Halloween may be full of frights and fun, but it can also be one of the most dangerous times to be on the road, especially along America’s busiest highways. That’s why Allstate is sharing new insights from Drivewise, a safe driving program available in the Allstate app, to encourage safe driving habits and help protect drivers this Halloween weekend.
Why is Halloween weekend especially dangerous for drivers?
New data from Allstate’s Drivewise shows aggressive driving behavior in major U.S. cities is especially common on the weekends, peaking between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. With Halloween falling on a Friday this year, the overlap with already-dangerous weekend driving hours could make major roads even more hazardous.
The trend of increased weekend driving risk also extends to more serious crashes: According to the National Safety Council’s most recent analysis of federal crash data, fatal car crashes are more frequent on weekends, peaking on Saturdays.
Brian Tidwell, Allstate safety expert
“Halloween weekend brings out costumes, candy and, unfortunately, some risky driving behavior. With more people out later, Drivewise helps drivers stay alert and avoid patterns like speeding and sudden stops that can quickly turn a fun night into a dangerous one.”
What are the 10 riskiest roads in major U.S. cities?
Allstate analyzed driving behavior across the 50 most populous U.S. cities and identified the 10 riskiest road segments based on rates of hard braking and speeding, two key indicators of aggressive driving. More info about the data can be found below in the editor’s note.
Each of the roads identified is part of an interstate or heavily trafficked state highway, often located near busy interchanges and exit ramps where sudden stops, complex merges and lane changes are more frequent.
| Rank | City | Road | 🛑 Riskiest Time | ✅ Safest Time |
| 1 | San Diego | I-8E (Exit 7 to I-15N) | Sun–Thu, 7–11 p.m. | Mon–Fri, 6–9 a.m. |
| 2 | Atlanta | SR-166E (Exit to Lakewood Ave) | Sat–Sun, 5–11 a.m. | Mon–Fri, 3–7 p.m. Sun–Thu, 7–11 p.m. |
| 3 | Oklahoma City | SH-3S (Exit to I-44E) | Sat–Sun, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Mon–Thu, 11 p.m.–4 a.m. Fri, 12–4 a.m. Sun, 11 p.m.–12 a.m. |
| 4 | Memphis | I-240E (Exit 12A to Summer Ave) | Mon–Fri, 6–9 a.m. Sat–Sun, 5–11 a.m. | Sun–Thu, 7–11 p.m. |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | I-376W (Exit 74 to Beechwood Blvd) | Mon–Thu, 11 p.m.–4 a.m. Fri, 12–4 a.m. Sun, 11 p.m.–12 a.m. | Sun–Thu, 7–11 p.m. |
| 6 | Phoenix | I-17N (Exit 223B to SR-74W) | Sat–Sun, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Mon–Fri, 3–7 p.m. |
| 7 | Baltimore | I-95N (Exit 59 to MD-150) | Sat–Sun, 5–7 p.m. | Mon–Thu, 11 p.m.–4 a.m. Fri, 12–4 a.m. Sun, 11 p.m.–12 a.m. |
| 8 | Las Vegas | I-11N/US-95N (Exit 82A to Lake Mead Blvd E) | Mon–Fri, 6 a.m.–9 p.m. Sat–Sun, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| 9 | Detroit | I-94E (Exit 219 to Gratiot Ave) | Sun–Thu, 7–11 p.m. Sat–Sun, 5–7 p.m. | Mon–Fri, 3–7 p.m. |
| 10 | San Antonio | I-10E (Exit 578 to Pecan Valley Dr) | Sat–Sun, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Fri–Sat, 7–11 p.m. |
How can drivers stay safe this Halloween weekend?
Whether driving through neighborhoods or on highways, staying alert and practicing safe driving habits is key to keeping Halloween celebrations safe for everyone. To help keep the night festive – and not frightening – here are a few Halloween-inspired reminders:
- Beware of “trick-or-treat” zones: Slow down in neighborhoods and near intersections where children may be crossing to celebrate.
- Don’t be a zombie behind the wheel: Stay alert and avoid distractions like phones or fatigue.
- Avoid being a speed demon: Keep your speed in check, especially near exits and merge zones where traffic is heavier and sudden stops are more common.
- Watch for haunted hazards: Defensive driving helps you react to sudden stops and unexpected traffic patterns.
- Keep your headlights glowing: Visibility is key when costumes and decorations might make pedestrians harder to spot.
How does Drivewise help drivers?
Part of a growing trend in safe driving programs, Allstate’s Drivewise provides real-time feedback on driving behavior, helping drivers make smarter decisions behind the wheel. In fact, customers who choose to use Drivewise are 25% less likely to have a severe collision than those who don’t. Drivers who enroll in Drivewise can also receive a more personalized rate, which can help them save money on their auto insurance policy.
Editor’s note
*Data is based on aggregated and anonymized 2024 Drivewise driving behavior, identifying the top road segment in each major city with the highest average of hard braking and speeding. Hard braking is defined as a deceleration of 8+ mph in one second while driving at least 35 mph; speeding is defined as driving 15+ mph over the posted limit. Only road segments with at least 1,000 trips were included to focus on heavily trafficked routes; individual time segments represent at least 150 trips. Data is based on the location of a trip and not the zip code of a customer or their vehicle. This analysis aims to raise awareness about safe driving and the role mobility intelligence programs like Drivewise play in promoting safer habits. It is not used to determine auto insurance rates. While a customer’s rate could increase with high-risk driving, most drivers will save with Drivewise.
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) protects people from life’s uncertainties with affordable, simple and connected protection for autos, homes, electronic devices, and identities. Products are available through a broad distribution network including Allstate agents, independent agents, major retailers, online, and at the workplace. Allstate has more than 208 million policies in force and is widely known for the slogan “You’re in Good Hands with Allstate.” For more information, visit www.allstate.com.
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