Fall, nights among the most dangerous times for drivers
An analysis of NHTSA data found the most and least safest times to be on the road.
Late nights, October and weekends are the most dangerous times to be on the road, according to a new report from Injured in Florida.
The personal injury law firm used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to calculate the safest and most dangerous times to drive in the United States. The study found that October was the most dangerous month for drivers, and fall was the most dangerous season.
“October’s early nightfall, unpredictable weather and leaf-slicked roads likely contribute to this,” the report said.
July and August were also top accident-prone months. “Although the weather is better in these months, these long sunny days lead to more people on the roads, increasing the opportunities for accidents,” the report said.
For days of the week, Saturday and Sunday are the most dangerous. This is most likely due to an increased number of people on the roads during the weekend and, potentially, the recreational activities they indulge in. “Unfortunately, it could be due to an increased likelihood of people driving under the influence after partying the weekend away,” the report said.
Nighttime is the most dangerous time of day for driving, with most accidents occurring between 9 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. and midnight and 2:59 a.m. “Driving at night has always been harder and more dangerous than the day, simply because it’s harder to see obstacles and other vehicles,” the report said.
February ranked highest for safe driving, with January coming in second. “This could be because people have already had all winter to get used to driving in bad weather by the time February rolls around,” the report said.
The safest day to drive was Tuesday, likely because fewer people are on the road. “Positioned in the ‘meh middle’ of the week, Tuesday is probably the least likely day for people to go out, making it the safest,” the report says.
For the safest driving time, early hours of the morning—3 a.m. and 5:59 a.m.—saw the fewest accidents, likely because fewer people are driving during those hours.
See also: