Please be advised that the following topic is for informational purposes only and not a legal matter currently handled by our firm. If you need further assistance regarding this particular topic, you can contact your local Bar Association for a referral to an attorney who may be able to address your inquiry in more detail.
Can you guess the most dangerous times to drive? Below, we’ll share some of the riskiest times to be on the road according to safety experts.
It’s hard to completely avoid driving during these dangerous times, but it’s good to be extra cautious. Certain days, times, and even holidays are much more common for California car accidents than others.
Dangerous Holidays Due to Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is one of the biggest reasons why certain days of the year are more dangerous for everyone to be on the roads. Any holiday that involves celebration tempts people to go out and party, then drink and drive. Drugged driving is also a similar problem.
Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that these are the most dangerous holidays of the year:
- Fourth of July
- Thanksgiving
- New Year’s Eve
- Christmas
- Memorial Day
- Labor Day
The entire stretch of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is full of numerous dangerous weekends when people – especially teens and young adults – enjoy warm summer weather by drinking and driving. That’s why AAA calls this period the 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers.
Riskiest Times of Day to Drive
Now let’s look at safer vs. riskier times of day to drive. Generally speaking, the daytime hours during non-rush hour periods are the safest times to be on the roads, like in the morning between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and in the afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Riskier periods include morning rush hour from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and evening rush hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A huge influx of vehicles hits the roads as people travel to and from work, and lots of people are too impatient and distracted to give their full attention to the road. The lunchtime hour from noon to 1 p.m. can also be a congested and dangerous period.
Every day of the year also has another big surge in dangerous driving from about 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. due to the impact of impaired drivers. As people stay up late partying and drinking, they put others at risk whenever they hit the roads.
City Traffic Congestion
Here’s one you might not realize until you experience it for yourself: big city traffic congestion. Sitting still can be just as dangerous as roaring down the highway! You could be rear-ended by an out-of-control truck or be T-boned while waiting at an intersection.
Big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have longer and more dangerous rush hours than smaller cities. This creates gridlock and driver frustration that can boil over into accidents.
For example, San Francisco’s evening rush hour starts as early as 4:30 p.m. and sometimes lasts late into the evening when big events are happening downtown. Despite the city’s best efforts to ease traffic congestion, the average daily San Francisco auto transit time has only decreased slightly since 2011.
The Winter Driving Season
Winter sees a rise in dangerous driving due to natural events like storms, sleet, snow, and ice. Although California has famously beautiful weather, we’re not immune from sudden, scary winter storms!
When people aren’t used to icy driving, a fast dip in temperatures can be even more dangerous for them. An icy morning or sleety evening in California can bring catastrophic crashes. Plus, every year, new teen drivers experience bad weather for the first time and might be unaware of how to handle it.
What would you do if you were in a traffic accident during one of these dangerous periods? It’s bad news for your car and your life, but here’s some good news: California law gives you options for pursuing compensation. Contact the Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers team for a free consultation about your accident.
We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus on Your Life
After an injury, contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many areas of the law, including traffic accidents during dangerous periods. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering while we handle the legal details.
We truly care about the people of California. Contact us today for a free online case evaluation.
