Texas Ranks Among Most Dangerous States for Nightlife, Study Finds

Those who love the nightlife will want to be extra careful in Texas. It turns out that Texas is the 12th most dangerous state for nightlife, according to a new study.

I was all about closing the bars down before we had kids. These days, I’m a much bigger fan of happy hour. I like to get home and settle in around dinner time. 

And when it comes to nightlife, it goes without saying that the world tends to be a little less safe after the sun goes down. In fact, I know folks who will tell you nothing good happens on the streets after midnight.

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Some Places Are Safer Than Others

Of course, some places are much safer than others when the streetlights come on. I spent most of my 20s and 30s playing in metal bands. When you’re in a band traveling to different cities, you quickly learn which locales are a little sketchier than others. 

That said, I never really found any of the states we traveled to be any more dangerous than the others. It was more about which specific areas to avoid at night. 

But, statistically speaking, some states are much safer than others when it comes to nightlife. For instance, New Jersey is the safest state for nightlife according to a study by Bader Law. New Mexico has the unfortunate distinction of being the most dangerous state for nightlife.

The Factors Behind Texas’ Ranking

The researchers reached their conclusions using safety statistics like murder rates, violent crimes, DUI fatality rates, and aggravated assault rates. Texas scored particularly poorly with an underage DUI rate that is 47% higher than the national average and a rate of fatalities due to drowsy drivers that is a whopping 83% higher than the national average. 

So, in other words, be careful when you’re going out for a night of partying — and be extra vigilant while on the roads.