The most difficult times to drive are the early morning (4-6 AM), the late afternoon/evening (1-5 PM & 4-7 PM rush hour), and the middle of the night (midnight - 2 AM), primarily due to extreme fatigue and biological sleepiness, compounded by reduced visibility, glare at dusk, and more impaired drivers, making night driving generally riskier overall despite fewer cars.
Time of day
The evening commute is no surprise as it is a time when increased accidents happen. Rush hour — weeknights between 3 pm to 6 pm is the most dangerous time on the road.
You should put your hands at 9 and 3, not 10 and 2, because modern airbags make the older 10 and 2 position dangerous, potentially injuring your hands and arms, while 9 and 3 offers better control and safety, especially for emergency maneuvers. The 10 and 2 position was for cars without power steering and airbags; now, 9 and 3 is considered standard for superior control and airbag safety.
Evening rush hour (between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays) is a dangerous time to drive due to crowded roadways and drivers eager to get home after work. In winter, it's dark during rush hour, compounding an already dangerous driving situation.
The highest crash risk occurs during morning (7–9 AM) and evening (3–7 PM) rush hours, late nights (10 PM–2 AM), and weekends. Congestion, fatigue, and impaired driving during these periods increase collision likelihood.
Earlier is always better if you are getting out on the highways. Give yourself plenty of time and head out in the morning early to avoid traffic. Statistically, Tuesday mornings between 3am and 6am are the times when the least number of cars are on the road, and thereby, the safest.
A study found rush hour is evolving. There aren't as many cars on the road pre-9:00 A.M. anymore, because traffic is getting more spaced out. But in a lot of cities, that means there's a mini rush hour ALL DAY LONG now. The report found the "midday rush hour" is worse than ever.
To keep yourself, your travel partners, and others on the road safe, it is recommended to hit the brakes on your driving time at 8.5 hours per day and no more than that.
New Year's Day – the most dangerous holiday for drunk driving that, in reality, starts on New Year's Eve – sees deaths spike 117 percent above what is considered the baseline average.
Explantion: You should always drive at a speed that allows you to stop within the distance that you can see to be clear ahead. If you don't think you could safely bring the vehicle to a stop within the range of what you can see, then you're driving too fast – slow down.
Years ago, drivers were taught to hold the steering wheel at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends drivers put their hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions. This is to potentially keep hands out of the way if your airbag deploys.
Hand-to-Hand Steering (Push/Pull)
Do not cross your hands over the middle of the steering wheel. Keep your hands in these positions, even when making turns.
The EWD must be installed at least (4) meters to the front and at the rear of the motor vehicle whenever the motor vehicle is stationary for any reason, or it is compelled to stop on an area where standing or parking is prohibited.
Most crashes or near-misses happen at the times you would expect drivers to be tired: 4 to 6 a.m., midnight to 2 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., according to NSF. Drowsy driving puts everyone on the road at risk.
Ensure that in any working day the maximum amount of driving is ten hours. You should also make sure that you should work no more than 16 hours between the times of starting and finishing work. Take a continuous rest of ten hours between two consecutive working days.
You have to be mindful of your speed at all times, worrying about other drivers around you, anticipating lane changes and whether or not the driver in front of you is slowing down. Your brain is working pretty hard when you're driving and can become exhausted after long stretches hence the reason you get tired.
The most traffic fatalities happen on our nation's birthday, the 4th of July. It is no surprise as this day has become quite popular for parties and drinking, and unfortunately drunk driving.
NHTSA estimates that minimum-drinking-age laws have saved 31,959 lives from 1975 to 2017. In 2023, the highest percentage of drunk drivers (with BACs of . 08 g/dL or higher) were the 21-to 24-year-old age group.
The leading causes of death for unintentional injury include: unintentional poisoning (e.g., drug overdoses), unintentional motor vehicle (m.v.) traffic, unintentional drowning, and unintentional falls.
Daily driving limit
You must not drive for more than 10 hours in any working day.
Time it Right
When it comes to avoiding heavy traffic, timing is key. If you time your drive carefully, you can usually escape the heaviest rush-hour traffic. Try to avoid driving—especially on the highway—between the hours of 7 to 9 a.m and 4 to 6 p.m. to avoid getting caught in peak rush-hour traffic.
14-Hour Limit: CMV drivers cannot drive after being in On-Duty for more than 14 hours in a 24-hour period or work-shift. 16-Hours Limit: CMV drivers cannot driver after 16 hours has passed from the moment they mark Driving or On-Duty in the beginning of a shift. Note: Driving time counts as On-Duty time.
Between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., the risk of fatal crashes spikes. In these situations, fatigue is a huge factor. Our bodies naturally want to rest during the night and early morning. That makes driving while sleepy almost as dangerous as driving drunk.
Yes, Rush Hour 4 is officially in development, with plans to start filming in early 2026, reportedly in China, Africa, and Saudi Arabia, with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker expected to return, though official deals are pending, and Brett Ratner is slated to direct, marking a significant step for the long-stalled sequel.
Tips for Managing The Stress of Rush Hour Traffic