The Safest Times to Drive

Unless you are a stunt man or a commercial fisherman, driving is probably the most dangerous thing you do every day. In fact, Forbes magazine reports that auto accidents are actually the number one cause of death for people ages 1 to 34. But what if you could decrease your chances of getting in a fatal accident by changing the times that you drive? Would you switch up your routine?

Absolutely! So what times do I need to avoid?

If you have ever driven in rush hour traffic, it will be no surprise to you that the hours between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm are considered the most dangerous. According to the Institute for Highway Safety, an average of 13.2 people are killed every day between these hours. Well, of course that is the case, right? There are way more cars on the road during those hours. Plus, wouldn’t you avoid rush hour if you could regardless? Good point.

To get a more accurate view, the number of fatalities needs be broken down into a percentage of deaths versus number of cars on the road. When that is done, the most dangerous time to drive is between midnight and 4 am, probably due to the increase of intoxicated drivers on the road. Luckily, that is a much easier time to avoid.

Okay, I can do that. Is every day of the week fair game?

You may think that since there are so many commuters’ cars on the road during the week, those days must be the most dangerous. But, nope. Saturday is actually the most dangerous day to drive, actual numbers and percentages considered. Saturday’s have an average of 158 fatalities every day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or 1.2 deaths per 100 million drivers.

So you want me to avoid driving on Saturday?

While the life expectancy of the human race would undoubtedly increase if we could all live in our own little bubble, that is just not practical. Saturdays are a popular day for family outings, shopping and, well, living life. When it comes to driving, either during rush hour or on Saturday, you should just be more aware. Always wear your seatbelt, avoid any distractions, and of course, do not drink and drive. If you commit to be the safest driver you can be then you are free to drive whenever you want to.