The 10 Worst Days of the Year to Drive
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AAA, and other various sources, there are a number of days each year where it is clearly more dangerous on the road. The following are the top ten worst days of the year to drive:
1. Memorial Day Weekend – This holiday weekend is often considered to be the start of summer. Many people make special plans that typically involve traveling and there is an increase in alcohol consumption. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined that about 44% of all traffic fatalities that occur over Memorial Day weekend are alcohol-related.
2. The first Monday after Daylight Saving Time starts – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that traffic fatalities on the Monday after changing to Daylight Saving Time increases by about 17 percent.
3. Black Friday – People flock to malls and stores, leading to overcrowded parking lots and increased traffic in concentrated areas. Progressive Insurance found that the number of claims on Black Friday doubled and parking lot claims rose by 36 percent, with many of the accidents being rear-end accidents.
4. NFL Game Day – The Highway Loss Data Institute did a study that revealed claim frequency around a stadium increases on game day. A home-team win only raises collision claims by about 3 percent, while a home-team loss raises claims by about 9 percent, likely due to aggressive driving.
5. Friday the 13th –A large UK insurance company, Aviva, found that collision claims went up by about 13 percent on Friday the 13th when compared with other days during the same month. No matter what season Friday the 13th fell in, the numbers always increased. The study also found that about 9 percent of drivers keep a lucky charm in their car.
6. New Year’s Day – Surprisingly it is New Year’s Day, not New Year’s Eve, which is more dangerous. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety data, January 1st ranked as the number 1 day of the year with the highest percent of deaths related to alcohol. New Year’s Day is also one of the highest days for car theft.
7. The 4th of July – According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, July 4th is the second deadliest day of the year for drunk drivers with about 42 percent of accidents involving a drunk driver.
8. Thanksgiving – An increased amount of cars on the road across the U.S. makes Thanksgiving one of the busiest travel periods during the year. Since Thanksgiving always falls on a Thursday, many travelers are also on the road on that Wednesday.
9. Christmas –The Christmas season can be stressful for people, which can lead to more accidents. A state farm survey found that 32 percent of drivers were more likely to be aggressive and have road rage during the holidays.
10. St. Patrick’s Day – St. Patrick’s Day festivities typically include a lot of alcohol intake. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that two out of five car crash fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day involved a drunk driver.
Remember to take extra precautions when driving on these dangerous days!