Every time you are in the driver’s seat, you need to be careful and watch out for hazards ― but especially during the evening rush hour, according to new research by tech marketer Hennessey Digital on behalf of New Orleans-based personal injury law firm Scott Vicknair.
Hennessey Digital analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fatality and injury reports to see which times of the day saw the most fatal crashes in each state between 2017 and the latest data from 2022. It found that between 5 p.m. and 5:59 p.m. is the most dangerous time to drive in 12 states, including Colorado, Arkansas and Oregon.
In general, across the country, deadly car accidents mostly occur in the evening. In 10 states ― including North Carolina, Ohio and New York ― driving between 6 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. was found to be the most dangerous time, and in seven states, like California, Florida and Arizona, driving between 8 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. was the most dangerous time.
These are the states where 5-6 p.m. is the most likely time someone will get in a car crash:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- West Virginia
David Vicknair, attorney at Scott Vicknair, said his firm’s analysis shows the risk of driving during rush hour times in the evening and “highlights the heightened risk associated with heavy traffic and possibly more fatigued or distracted drivers.”
These findings align with other research on rush hours, whether morning or evening, being the most dangerous time to drive. In North Carolina, one out of every four crash events occurs during the evening rush hour period. And in a 2021 systematic review of road crash studies, researchers noted that, although the exact hour where most crashes occur varied by state and population density, generally, morning rush hours (between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.) and early afternoon to evening rush hours (between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) were associated with a 28% increase in fatal crash injuries.
One major reason as to why? Those are times of “peak traffic flow,” with more aggressive, reckless drivers and trucks on the road, the systematic review suggested.
Other Dangerous Times To Drive
In general, driving at night can be dangerous for all ages ― but especially when you are a young, inexperienced driver.
In 2022, teens dying in motor vehicle crashes occurred most frequently from 9 p.m. to midnight, and nearly half of all fatal car crashes involving teen drivers occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to an analysis of the Department of Transportation’s reported fatalities by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a U.S. nonprofit dedicated to reducing deaths in motor vehicles.
One other reason driving at night is so hazardous is because it’s when we are most likely to be tired. The NHTSA reported that drowsy-driving crashes occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., as well as in the late afternoon, noting that during those times “people experience dips in their circadian rhythm — the human body’s internal clock that regulates sleep.”
Tips For Safer Driving In The Evening And At Night
The best way to reduce the risk of crashing is to avoid risky driving behaviors. Make sure to follow these rules of the road:
Stay focused on the road, not your phone.
Do not text or drive distracted, obey posted speed limits and always drive sober. You have reduced visibility at night, so slow down to compensate for that.
Give speeding drivers plenty of space.
Don’t make someone else’s rush-hour emergency your own. Speeding drivers are more likely to lose control of their vehicle more easily, so give them a wide berth.
If you are being aggressively tailgated, you need to make more room between the other person’s car and yours. As driving instructors have previously told HuffPost , the safest thing to do when being tailgated is to pull over or change lanes until the tailgater passes. And if that’s not possible, slow down and increase the distance between you and the car in front of you.
Know when it’s better to stay off the road.
Many car crashes happen on Saturday nights , so when you plan for a weekend night out, decide who will be the designated sober driver, use a taxi or ride share, or stay on a friend’s couch to avoid driving impaired.
Ideally, you should be getting enough sleep at night to avoid driving tired. But if you start crossing over roadway lines because you are feeling sleepy, you should pull over for a short nap at a rest stop, according to the NHTSA.
When you are too tired or too buzzed, you are no longer thinking straight. It’s better to make safer backup plans for how you are getting home before you put yourself — and others — at risk.
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