The Most Dangerous Time of Day to Drive The most dangerous time to be on the road is between 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. during the spring and summer, and between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. during the fall and winter months.
The most dangerous time to drive during the day is during the evening rush hour. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that this is when most fatal accidents occur. The second most dangerous time is between midnight and four a.m. This is when drunk drivers are most likely to be on the road.
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.
The Safest Times to Drive
Generally, the deadliest times to drive are between midnight and 4 AM because there tends to be an increase in impaired drivers.
Saturday and Friday are still the two deadliest days to drive, and rush hour from 3:00–6:00 pm is still the deadliest time to drive.
This means that getting on the road earlier than 7:00 AM or after 8:00 AM will result in less traffic for most people. Less traffic is safer and leads to less stopping, fewer red lights, and smooth cruising. What is this? Starting a road trip during the early morning hours isn't easy for everyone.
A series of crash tests by IIHS and partners shows that impact speeds of 50 mph or 56 mph are far more likely to lead to injury or death than 40 mph impacts.
Increased Risk
Drivers are at a much higher risk of being involved in a car crash at night than during the day. Roughly 50% of all car crashes occur between the hours of 11 PM and 5 AM. Put another way, 50% of the crashes occur during about 25% of the day.
It's not just paranoia: Driving at night is actually more dangerous. Fatal accidents are three times more likely at night compared with the daytime, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Avoid having a fixed gaze and never stare at oncoming headlights when driving at night. Shift your eyes down and to the right and use the right edge of the road or lane markings as a guide. Once the vehicle has passed, lift your gaze back up.
The best time to leave to avoid traffic on a long drive is early in the morning before 6 am. When traveling by car you should aim to avoid rush hour congestion by aiming to start your road trip first thing in the morning.
Note when the vehicle ahead passes that marker, then see how many seconds it takes (count 1-1,000; 2-1,000; 3-1,000) for you to pass the same spot. If it is not at least three seconds, leave more space and increase your following distance. Think of following distance in terms of time, not space.
The “kill your speed” message originates with the estimate that “the chance of a pedestrian [or cyclist, presumably] being seriously injured or killed if struck by a car is 45% at 30 mph and 5% at 20 mph”.
70 MPH is the average speed limit on most US highways. It is also the speed at which a fatal car accident becomes practically inevitable.
High speed crashes are more likely to occur than crashes at lower speeds and, when they do occur, they're more likely to be deadly. Higher speeds are more likely to result in crashes because the amount of time a driver has to hit the brakes or swerve decreases at higher speeds, while vehicle braking distances increase.
Undoubtedly, distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents. A distracted driver does not have their complete attention on the road, and they may be paying closer attention to a mobile device, passengers, or even a cheeseburger.
Check your mirrors. Check your blind spot by looking over your shoulder. If it is safe, change lanes. Turn off your signal after completing the lane change.
Working from 11 am – 7 pm is the best shift to avoid the worst of the traffic when commuting. If you're taking a long trip, it's recommended where possible to leave around 6 am and to avoid travelling on Friday unless it's unavoidable.
Amaxophobia (also called hamaxophobia) makes you feel anxious or fearful when you drive or ride in a vehicle, such as a car, bus or plane. With it, you have a fear of driving and may also get anxious being a passenger. This fear can interfere with work, socializing and travel.
Causes of Driving Phobia
Personally experiencing a car accident in the past. Witnessing other cars' tragic accidents or hearing about a car accident that involves someone close to you. Getting lost for hours while driving without access to help. Experiencing heavy traffic.
By about age 60, the human eye requires three times more light to see than at age 20. This normal decline in vision makes driving at dusk and in dark conditions more challenging for seniors. For some drivers, the effect could be as severe as wearing sunglasses while driving at night.