Driving is one of the most dangerous activities in the US, but many Americans rely on their vehicles to commute from work. There are also more dangerous times to drive during the day. Unfortunately, they coincide with most people’s commute home at the end of the day.
According to the National Safety Council, automobile crashes frequently occur between 4 and 7 p.m. To learn more about the reasons for this increase, see below.
Morning commutes are not as dangerous
Perhaps the most apparent reason for the increased likelihood of car crashes is the surge in traffic. Rush hour happens in the morning and in the afternoon, but surprisingly, the morning commute times are among the safest hours to drive. This applies to every day of the week. For some reason, the morning commute is not as big a factor in car accidents as driving home from work.
Possible reasons for increased danger
There might be several reasons for the increase in motor vehicle accidents between 4 and 7 p.m. For one, people at the end of the workday might be more tired than when they drive to work in the morning. Combine this with the increased likelihood of frustration, a desire to get home, distraction and impaired drivers and the numbers might make more sense.
Do not let the daily grind affect your driving. It might be tempting to lose focus on the road at the end of the day but remember that most fatalities occur on the commute home. You not only must remain vigilant while operating your vehicle, but you must also pay attention to other distracted drivers heading home.