Progressive Claims Study Pinpoints Most Dangerous Times for Driving
Reprinted with permission from CollisionWeek
Friday afternoon may be the start of the weekend, but it's also the day more drivers are involved in collisions. A recent study of claims data by Progressive Insurance Company, found that more collisions occur between 3 and 6 p.m. on Friday than at any other time and day of the week.
The countrywide study analyzed more than one million collisions reported to the company by its customers and others from January to June of 2003. Here are some of the other findings:
Day when most collisions occur: Friday. It accounted for 16.4 percent of all collisions reported, followed by Saturday at 14.7 percent and Thursday at 14.6 percent.
Morning rush hour collisions: More reported collisions take place on Monday between 6 and 9 a.m., followed by the same times on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Afternoon rush hour collisions: More reported collisions happen on Friday, between 4 and 7 p.m., followed by Thursday and Tuesday.
Fewest collisions: Fewer collisions occur on average between 4 and 5 a.m. than at any other time period. On Thursdays, between 4 and 5 a.m., the least amount of reported collisions occur, followed by Tuesday and Wednesday. During daylight hours, the fewest incidents of collisions occur between 9 and 10 a.m.
Weekend warriors: Significantly more collisions are reported between 12 and 1 a.m. on Saturdays than on any other day at this time.
Most dangerous weekend time: The highest frequency of collisions occurs on Saturdays and Sundays between 2 and 3 p.m.
Lunch crunch! Lunch-time drivers may want to consider going out for lunch on Wednesday since that time period had the least number of collisions occurring from 12 to 1 p.m., followed by Thursday and Tuesday.
Heading for that weekend vacation. Drivers may want to delay leaving for weekend getaways - More than twice as many collisions occur on Friday evenings (from 6 to 8 p.m.) than on Saturday mornings (from 7 to 9 a.m.).
Beware of Sunday drivers! Heading home after a long relaxing weekend? Be mindful that most Sunday collisions occur between 2 to 3 p.m.; the fewest collisions occur on Sundays occur between 5 and 6 a.m.