As of 2016, there were 268,799,080 vehicles registered in the United States. While many drivers are able to safely operate vehicles without ending up in accidents, each year a large number of drivers are not so lucky.
The likelihood that a motorist will end up in an accident increases substantially when there are more vehicles on the road, when weather conditions are not ideal, and when there is an increased number of intoxicated drivers on the road. The following takes a closer look at the factors surrounding the most dangerous time to drive.
The Safest Days of the Week to Drive
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Tuesday is the safest day of the week for drivers while Saturday is the most dangerous. More specifically, a study performed by Avvo revealed that 6,802 people were killed on Saturdays in 2016. This number was 53% higher than the 4,444 people who were killed on Tuesdays. Avvo’s data was based on examination of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Reporting System for 2016, which documents crash-related fatalities.
The second and third deadliest days of the week are reported to be Friday and Sunday. While there are a number of reasons why these days are much more dangerous, they are part of the weekend when more people are likely to drink alcohol and drive recklessly.
Additional statistics compiled by Avvo reveal that the deadliest time to drive is on Saturday from 10 pm to 12:59am or on Sunday from 1 am to 3:59am. During weekdays, however, the safest time to be on the road is on Tuesday between 1 am and 3:59 am.
The Deadliest Driving Locations in the Country
Avvo has also released a report concerning the parts of the country where drivers are the most dangerous. Mississippi and Alabama were two of the deadliest states every day for 2016. At 4 pm, Wisconsin and New Mexico have the highest fatality rates with 1.7 fatalities among 100,000 residents. At 5 pm, the deadliest state is Minnesota with 1.6 fatalities among 100,000 residents.
More Intoxicated Drivers on the Roads
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that between 2001 to 2005, an average of 36 fatalities occurred each day in the United States involving alcohol-impaired drivers. There are certain times during the year, however, when these numbers increase substantially, such as during Christmas and New Years and other national holidays.
It is also reported that the number of alcohol-impaired drivers increases substantially during the summer months. The period between Memorial Day and Labor day has even gained the title of “the 100 deadliest days” because nine out of the 10 deadliest driving days occur during this time. Some of these deadly dates include July 4, September 2, August 13, July 15, May 20, and November 11.
Not only are there certain days when the risk of drunk driving accidents is greater, there are also certain times during the day when accidents are more likely to occur. Between the hours of 3 to 6 pm, or rush hour, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there is an increased risk of accidents.
Speak with an Experienced Lawyer
The best way to reduce the risk of ending up in a deadly car accident is to drive responsibly and defensively. Even if a driver is cautious, however, he or she can still end up in a deadly car accident anywhere, anytime. No matter what time of year or day a car accident occurs, if you or a loved one are injured in a car accident, contact Georgia Trial Attorneys today for a free case evaluation.