What Time of Day Do Most Car Accidents Happen During?
As a motorist, you’re extra-vigilant. You make sure that you’re well-rested and don’t allow yourself to be distracted by your phone or anything else before getting behind the wheel of your car. You also give yourself ample time to get to your destination in case you encounter traffic congestion, so there’s no need to speed, run lights, or otherwise drive recklessly.
While you do your best not to cause or become involved in an auto accident in Jackson, MS, you’ve found that others don’t necessarily do that.
In an effort to minimize your chances of becoming involved in a collision, you began researching what time of the day most car accidents happen, which led you to discover this blog. Below, we’ll share when crashes most often occur and why they happen at those times, so if you have the ability to adjust your schedule, this insight might aid you in deciding how to best do that.
The Weekends Are a Particularly Dangerous Time To Take to the Road
Whether you work on the weekends or that’s when you socialize with friends and family then, it’s important that you know that’s when it’s most deadly to be out on the road.
Not every time is a particularly dangerous one, though. Data compiled by the National Safety Council (NSC) suggests that the following days and time windows see the most traffic fatalities:
- Friday 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
- Saturday from 4 a.m. to 7:59 a.m. and 8 p.m., 4 p.m. to 7:59 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
- Sunday from 4 a.m. to 7:59 a.m.
These statistics shouldn’t surprise you if you take into account how individuals returning home could potentially be fatigued, intoxicated, distracted, or not completely focused on the road and the operation of their vehicle.
Rush Hour Is When Many Jackson Car Accidents Occur
Although not pinpointed as when the absolute most serious car accidents occur on the above-referenced NSC table, rush hour is still a dangerous time of the day for motorists on our city’s roadways.
According to GeoStat, 7 a.m. to 7:59 a.m. is when there’s the most morning rush hour traffic on the road here in Jackson. The number of vehicles on our roads peaks at 13,000 during that one-hour window. However, there’s a decent amount of traffic as early as 5 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Our roadways see an uptick in traffic anywhere from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as workers take lunch breaks. Evening rush hour starts as early as 3 p.m. and continues until 7 p.m. or later.
As you might surmise, the more vehicles that are on the road at any given time, the more likely it is for someone to have a car crash.
Times of the Day That Jackson Roadways Are Unsafe Can Vary
While, in general, Mississippi roadways may be unsafe at times, such as those outlined in the previously mentioned by the NSC resource cited above, there are exceptions to the rule.
For example, here’s what The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) refers to as the “100 Deadliest Days.” This is a period during the summer when teens and young adult college students are out of school, and thus, there are more of them on the road, which gives way to an uptick in deadly crashes with these motorists behind the wheel.
Then, there are holidays, like Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Independence Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc., when individuals tend to take advantage of free-flowing alcohol and days off work to become intoxicated, sometimes getting behind the wheels of their cars after doing so, leading to drunk driving crashes, sometimes no matter the time of the day.
Car Crashes Are Likely To Happen Near Your Hinds County Home
Now that you’re aware the most dangerous time on the road is during the weekend, let’s address where the crashes most likely occur. It’s not necessarily on a long trip, as some may think. Instead, a collision is most likely to occur when you’re still relatively close to home.
One recent Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery study detailed how at least 77% of injury accidents occurred within 10 miles of a person’s home. Other National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows that around half of all catastrophic injuries or fatal accidents happen within 25 miles of a person’s residence, whereas at least 52% occur within five miles.
Researchers tend to believe comfort and familiarity play a large role in why these accidents happen close to home. Motorists apparently relax more than they should.
So, while this data point doesn’t provide an exact time in which crashes may occur, anytime you get in your vehicle to go to work, run to the store, take the kids to school, or venture anywhere near your home, it could plausibly be when a crash occurs.
What To Do If a Car Accident in Jackson, MS Seriously Injured You
Our hope is that this information about when, where, and why our roads in Jackson are not safe helps you avoid a crash. However, if you’ve already had the misfortune of having an accident that left you with disabling injuries or claimed the life of a loved one, consider reaching out to us at Pittman, Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, to discuss what happened.
When you call or email us, we’ll put you in touch with a car accident attorney who thoroughly understands Mississippi traffic and personal injury law. They can review any evidence you’ve compiled in your case and advise you whether you meet the elements of negligence to move forward with an insurance claim or injury lawsuit. They can also help you navigate that process if you decide to work with one another.
Our consultations are free, so contact us now to discuss your case before any potential statute of limitations that applies runs out.
