Driving is more dangerous during certain months of the year, days of the week, and times of the day than it is others. Consider the following:
Most Dangerous Seasons
Most drivers think winter is by far one of the most dangerous times to drive, but different factors cause unsafe road conditions all throughout the year. Icy winter roads are the most dangerous, but drivers are usually more cognizant of driving safely during such conditions. Summer rains can lead to hydroplaning. Further, during spring and summer the sun rises earlier and sets later. The glare from the sunrise or sunset can be a huge driving hazard. Black ice is more likely to form in the fall when the ground is still warm but the temperature is below freezing. Dangerous driving conditions can pop up any time of year so it’s important to be cautious no matter the season.
Most Dangerous Days to Drive
The most dangerous day of the week to drive is Saturday, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). More drivers on the road on Saturdays. Further, a large proportion of drunk driving occurs on Saturdays. While, in general, roads are most dangerous in the winter and on Saturday, a few specific days are particularly more dangerous than others because of increased traffic and/or the increase of drinking and driving. These most dangerous holidays or notable days to drive are:
- Memorial day
- The start of daylight savings
- Black Friday
- Sunday’s during football season
- Friday the 13th
- New Year’s eve
- July 4th
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- St. Patrick’s
Most Dangerous Times to Drive
On weekday evenings between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., traffic is the heaviest. While the after work rush hours lead on volume, according to the NHTSA surveys, the most dangerous time on the road is between midnight and 4:00 a.m. This increase in danger is mainly attributed to fatigue, darkness, and drunk driving. However, dangerous conditions are not bounded to a certain time. One of the most dangerous condition to drive in is thick fog, which is more likely to occur during the morning rush hours.
Staying Safe
One measure you can take to protect yourself is testing the road conditions. Pick a place where there is plenty of road in front of you and no cars approaching. Start driving slowly, then try to stop quickly to test the road conditions. Testing the road will give you a better sense for how much distance you should keep from the car in front of you. Second, be prepared. You may need to pull over during a heavy rain storm or fog bank. Also, during an unexpected snowstorm, gloves and a window scraper are necessities. Be sure to pack your car to prepare for such conditions. You’ll be happy you did.
If you’ve been in a car accident any day of the year, it’s important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your options. To speak with one of our Columbus, Ohio, car accident attorneys contact the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers today.