It is impossible for you to completely eliminate your statistical risk on the road. Traveling in a motor vehicle will always involve the possibility of getting into a wreck. However, there are steps that you can take to minimize the potential of getting into a major crash.
Learning about the most common traffic risks can help you make better decisions about when, where and how you drive. For example, learning the specific times when your overall crash risk is at its highest could help you avoid driving during those most dangerous times.
When are you most likely to get into a wreck?
The most dangerous times of day
Looking at years of crash data can give you an overall idea about when the most collisions occur. Federal safety agencies provide information about when and how collisions occur.
According to the National Safety Council, driving at night is the most dangerous time, especially after midnight as people leave bars or in the late hours of the morning. Reduced visibility is a concern, as is fatigue. The overall risk of encountering a drunk driver may also be higher at night.
However, even if you can avoid driving after dark in many cases, you likely can’t avoid your daily commute, which is another very dangerous time to drive. The afternoon rush hour between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. is also a time when it is more dangerous than usual to drive.
The most dangerous days of the year
Would it surprise you to learn that the days that most people get excited about are also when they are most at risk on the roads? Holidays or the weekends right before or after them are often the deadliest days of the year, especially if you only look at drunk driving collisions.
New Year’s Day, Christmas, Fourth of July and even Memorial Day all see an increased statistical risk of fatal collisions and drunk driving crashes. Minimizing how much you travel on these days and taking extra care when you do could help you reach your destination safely.