Yukon tops list for road fatalities
A new analysis of Canadian road safety data, conducted by QR Code Generator using Transport Canada’s National Collision Database and the Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions report, has identified 4 PM as the most dangerous hour to drive during July. The study, which examined collision statistics from 2017 to 2021 for hourly patterns and from 2019 to 2023 for regional differences, adjusted all figures to reflect population differences across provinces and territories. The findings provide insight into when and where Canadian drivers face the highest risks on the road.
Peak risk hours and days
The data reveal that an average of 78.6 fatal collisions and 5,506 injury collisions occur at 4 PM each July, with the hours immediately before and after—3 PM and 5 PM—also ranking among the most dangerous. In contrast, 3 AM is the safest time to drive. Tuesdays and Thursdays see the fewest fatalities in July, while other days average 30 to 32 deaths.
“When we take into account the severity of each fatal crash, something very unusual emerges,” said Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator. “Throughout the year, the 3 to 6 PM interval has the highest road death toll. However, in July, this shifts three hours earlier, from noon until three in the afternoon. You would think school being out and family road trips increasing might be a reason, yet this pattern does not continue in August. That 12 to 3 PM deadly interval is specific to July.”
Demographics and contributing factors
Drivers aged 25 to 29 are the most at-risk group for fatalities in July, accounting for one in ten deaths. The next most vulnerable group is those aged 50 to 54. “The start of the travel season, longer days, later parties, festivals and holidays like Canada Day create the ‘perfect storm’ for fatal crashes in the 25–29-year-old demographic,” Porcar added.
Men are slightly more likely to die in July collisions than the yearly average, comprising 70.8% of fatalities. Pedestrians represent 11.6% of July road deaths, while motorcyclists account for 21.5%—nearly double their annual average share.
Regional differences in road safety
The report ranks provinces and territories by road fatalities and injuries per 100,000 inhabitants, based on data from 2019 to 2023. Yukon leads the country with an average of 12.5 fatalities per 100,000 people annually, followed by Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Manitoba records the highest rate of injuries, at 593 per 100,000 residents, though this figure includes minor injuries.
Broader trends
On average, July sees 9,061 crashes, resulting in 12,159 injuries and 197 deaths nationwide. The study notes that while school breaks might reduce traffic, July remains a particularly hazardous month for Canadian drivers, second only to August.
