To stay safe when you drive, one of the things you can do is avoid driving when there are going to be many people on the roads. To do this, you need to know which times of the day are the riskiest to you and your passengers.
There are several times of day when you may want to stay where you are instead of heading out for a drive. One of them is rush hour. Another is during a holiday rush. Additionally, you may want to avoid driving at night and in the early morning hours.
Rush hour traffic is a hazard
Rush hour traffic is dangerous for a few reasons. First, many people are trying to get to work, school or home all at the same time. It’s congested, and this makes it more likely for a crash to occur. Second, some people may become angry or frustrated by the traffic, so road rage becomes more likely. Finally, you’re more likely to see people try quick and dangerous maneuvers to squeeze into a lane or get out of traffic, so those unexpected movements could result in a crash.
Holiday rushes create a crash threat
Holiday rushes are another traffic condition that you should do your best to avoid. Black Friday morning, the rush to shops on the last day before Christmas, New Year’s Eve traffic and other holiday rushes cause heavy traffic congestion. Combined with anxiety and stress over the holidays, drinking and being in unfamiliar places to visit friends and family, the holiday rush is extremely dangerous.
Night driving creates a higher crash risk
When you drive at night, it’s more difficult to see. There is also a greater risk of running into those under the influence of alcohol. A report from 2016 found that weekend hours between 10 p.m. and the morning and 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Sundays were the most fatal times to be on the roads.
It may be impossible to avoid driving at these times, but doing so may help you prevent an auto crash. If you’re hit by someone who is acting reckless, know that you can pursue a claim against them. Everyone needs to be responsible on the roads, no matter what time of day it is.