Saturday is the most dangerous day of the week for drivers, followed respectively by Friday and Sunday. It makes sense. It is the weekend and, after five days spent at work or school, people are ready to get out, relax, and do the things they really want to do. Unfortunately, on these days, there are more drivers on the roads, and they’re more likely to be careless and reckless, particularly in the evening and at night. These factors combined lead to more fatal car accidents.
Statistics About Fatal Car Accidents
The legal advice and lawyer directory website Avvo analyzed the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and found that deadly vehicle crashes are on the rise.
- There were 37,461 road deaths in 2016.
- 6,802 lives were lost on Saturday.
- There were 5,826 deaths on Friday.
- Sunday saw 5,809 deaths.
- The fewest deaths occurred on Tuesday, at 4,444.
Numbers like these make a point – there are far too many deaths caused by car crashes. But it’s also easy to focus on the digits and overlook that these numbers represent people. Every person who lost their life on the road because of a car accident is now a statistic.
Identifying the Causes of Fatal Car Accidents
The most dangerous and deadly time of day to drive is between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., any day of the week. The 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. time stretch is the second deadliest. In contrast, the hours between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. see the fewest fatalities. This information indicates that evening commuters are far more likely to be in a fatal car crash than people who travel in the morning.
Let’s break it down. In the morning during the week, drivers are:
- More alert.
- Drinking their coffee.
- Ready to start the day.
- Focused.
In the evening during the week, drivers are:
- Tired from a busy day.
- Rushing because they’re ready to be home.
- Distracted
- Thinking about what they still must do that evening.
These conditions are all relative, of course. People are exposed to varying levels of risk during their commute, depending on what time of day they’re driving, the day of the week, the month of the year, and their location. Mississippi was one of the top five deadliest states on all seven days of the week, followed by Alabama, Montana, and Wyoming.
There are plenty of other variables, including how much sleep you got the night before, weather conditions, stress level, and whether you’re checking emails while you drive, have children in the car, are listening to the radio, or are following a navigation system.
But the NHTSA identifies two major contributors to these fatal crashes: drunk driving (which is involved in a high number of weekend and night fatalities) and speeding. Aggressive behavior endangers the driver, passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians as there is a greater likelihood for the driver to lose control of the vehicle and have a more severe crash.
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident because of another driver’s distraction, intoxication, or aggression, contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation. Our attorneys have the experience to get you the compensation you deserve. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today to schedule your consultation.
