A new study in the US State of Illinois has found that there are more traffic deaths late at night than there are during rush hour.

One in every three traffic deaths in the state happens at late night, which lasts from 9pm to 3am. In contrast, the amount of deaths during rush hour is one in four.

The results are surprising because of the low traffic volumes during such hours, with only 3.5% of the day’s traffic reported between 12am to 3am.

During the last three years, 750 deaths where recorded between the hours of 12am and 3am.

The study has pinpointed drunk driving and neglect of safety measures as the main causes for the high number of accidents during late night hours.

The state is now planning to increase night patrols over the next few weeks.