When Is The Best Time To Drive?
When you are involved in a car accident, you may be injured or injure someone else as well as incur expensive damage to your car. In the aftermath, you may have to fight it out legally with insurance companies and the other party involved. Obviously, avoiding accidents altogether is your best strategy. Although there are never any perfect times to drive, you can reduce your chances of an accident by choosing your driving times wisely.
Rush Hour
According to statistics, the hours between 5pm and 7pm are the most dangerous times to drive. Of course, most people have to work, and many jobs require hitting the road during that period. Since approximately 13 people are killed on the road each day at those times in the US, avoiding rush hour is always advisable. Obviously, not everyone has that option. You will be safer if you can begin work later and avoid the madness of the late afternoon commute.
Summer Vacation
For your teenagers, the deadliest days for driving fall between Memorial Day and Labor Day, coinciding with summer vacation. Monitoring your teen during these days can be extraordinarily difficult, but you do need to limit their time on the road and discourage the number of passengers they take along. Talk to them about distracted driving and do not be afraid to take away the keys if their driving is careless.
Holidays
Holiday driving is also extremely dangerous, particularly Memorial Day, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving. Every year hundreds of driving fatalities occur on these days, often involving alcohol. If at all possible, you should avoid traveling the highway on these days. Consider choosing an alternative day to celebrate with relatives who live hours away. You can get together the week before or after the actual holiday, helping to keep your family safe. You will also be less stressed and better able to enjoy your time visiting if you don't have to worry about the packed roads that are awaiting your trip home.
If you are involved in an accident, you may well need the help of a good car accident lawyer and the aid of your insurance agent. Both of these professionals will tell you to take precautions so that you do not need their services after a crash. Often, your driving is not the problem. You do have to watch out for all the other people on the road, however.