Safest vs Most Dangerous Times to Drive: Advice From blog: Safest vs Most Dangerous Times to Drive: Advice From

The more cars are on the road the more dangerous driving becomes. The staff at encourages drivers to always stay alert and cautious while on the road, but even more so during rush hour, holidays and inclement weather. There are various factors to consider that cause the roads to be more or less crowded. Alcohol use during the holiday season is common, but did you know that it increases the number of accidents to almost twice as many compared to a typical day? The following sections provide information on the best and worst times, days, months and holidays to drive.

Time of Day

Rush hour traffic is not only inconvenient and results in various headaches, but is also the most dangerous time of day to drive. This relates to the specific times between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Try during the day before rush hour, or in the early evening once everyone seems to have arrived home, and traffic has settled. Fatal crashes are more likely to happen during the night than during the day on the weekends. The team at encourages drivers to avoid the road on Sunday morning around 2 a.m., because this is when most bars close, and even though there is light traffic, many drivers are impaired. During the week, crashes are likelier during the daytime. The lowest traffic times are between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. on weekdays.

Day of Week

The most fatal and dangerous day of the week to drive is Saturday. The majority of people are off work and out running errands and spending time with the family. This, in turn, makes the roads crowded. Friday early-evening rush hour has also been known to cause many accidents, because everyone is in an even bigger hurry to get home and enjoy their weekend. This is escalated on three-day weekends when many drivers go out of town. The safest weekdays to drive are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. August has been known to be the worst month to drive, especially when school starts back up. It has been recorded that the majority of car accidents happen during August. Closely followed is September and July for dangerous driving months. March has been found to be the safest month to drive with the fewest recorded auto collisions.


The time ranging from Memorial Day to Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days,” especially for teen drivers. These summer months have more drivers on the road during the day since school is out and many families are enjoying vacation time. Rush hour traffic is generally slower, but there is more traffic throughout the day at seemingly unexpected times. The Fourth of July is the single-most dangerous day to drive, and should be avoided if possible. It has been shown that over 900 deaths occur each year on the Fourth of July, alone. Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest travel weekend, which means more cars on the road and added weather concerns to consider. We at urge divers to be cautious during every holiday, and to not drink and drive. There are various ride-sharing services that will make sure to get you home safely. When visiting family and friends, a better option would be to spend the night instead of getting behind the wheel.


Rain and snow cause wet and slippery roadways which make the roads unsafe. There is also limited visibility. These weather conditions require drivers to slow down and factor in the conditions of the road. The team at suggests driving under the speed limit while not slowing down traffic. After snow falls, drivers will see workers throwing salt on the road to melt some of the ice and to make the road safer. Snow during the winter is more dangerous, but there are fewer drivers on the road, so there are fewer accidents. The summer months are sunny and dry, which means more drivers on the road and more danger, as well. Visibility is improved during the summer, and going extremely under the speed limit is not a good idea.