There are millions of cars, trucks, and vans on the road at any given time. With that many vehicles, a car accident is almost inevitable. However, accidents tend to happen during certain times of the day, individual days, and parts of the year. Knowing when the highest number of motor vehicle crashes happen can help you avoid them.
The National Safety Council (NSC) reported that 12,800,000 car accidents occurred in 2022. According to their research, there were 39,221 fatalities during the year.
Of the total number of accidents, roughly 9 million involve other vehicles. The most common type of car accident is the rear-end collision, with 3.68 million incidents recorded.
Based on the NSC data for 2022, fatal car crashes happen more frequently during the weekend. More deadly accidents occurred on Saturday than on any other day.
In comparison, more nonfatal car crashes happened during a weekday. The highest number of these car accidents occurred on Friday.
Both fatal and nonfatal crashes tended to happen between 4 p.m. and 7:59 p.m. However, peak crash periods changed drastically throughout 2022.
Fatal crashes generally peaked between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. during spring and summer. From November through March, the peak time was between 4 p.m. and 7:59 p.m.
In comparison, nonfatal crashes peak earlier in the summer between noon and 3:59 p.m.
Furthermore, the NSC stated that the highest number of fatal traffic crashes in 2022 happened between July and October. In those four months, October had the highest number of fatalities.
The NSC also calculated the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles. Based on this measure, September was the month with the highest fatality rate. It saw 1.54 fatalities every 100 million miles.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) stated that the highest number of urban car accidents occur on highways. Interstates and freeways also have 21% of fatal car crashes in urban areas.
In rural areas, car accidents take place most frequently on local roads. Fatal car crashes most frequently happen on arterial and local roads.
Car crashes might seem inevitable, but they’re also preventable. Most crashes happen because the drivers involved were inexperienced, lacked skill, or drove recklessly. Thus, you can avoid the majority of car crashes as long as you drive carefully.
Here are some helpful tips to avoid a motor vehicle crash:
When you’re behind the steering wheel, focus on the road. Ignore distractions that take your mind off what’s in front of you.
Are you going on a long trip or driving somewhere you’ve never been? Plan ahead of time and memorize the route.
Don’t bring too many passengers with you. The more people beside or behind you, the more they can distract you.
Do you need to do something, such as pick up something that has fallen to the floor? Pull over to somewhere safe first.
Pull over to the roadside if you feel ill, tired, or sleepy. Take your time to recover before resuming your road trip.
Using your cell phone while driving causes more than a million car crashes annually. In the US alone, texting while driving causes one out of every four motor vehicle crashes. It’s reached the point that 42 states have passed laws that prohibit texting while driving.
Send all your messages before entering your vehicle. Then turn off your cell phone or put it on silent mode before storing it somewhere you cannot easily reach.
Need directions to a location? Instead of using your phone, get a GPS navigation system for your car.
When you have to use your phone, pull over to a safe location and park your vehicle first.
Alcoholic drinks can hamper your thinking and slow you down. Since you need both a clear head and a good reaction time, it stands to reason that you shouldn’t drink before driving.
If you plan to indulge in alcohol, take an Uber, Lyft, or a cab home. Sure, cabs can charge a hefty sum, but a DUI fine costs more than a taxi ride. In some cases, a DUI can render you jobless and increase your auto insurance premium.
Alternatively, take a designated sober driver with you. They can take over the steering wheel when it’s time to go home.
Speeding is responsible for numerous car crashes and thousands of fatal injuries every year. Instead of rushing at the last minute, prepare everything beforehand. Leave early to give yourself more than enough time to reach your destination.
Keep in mind that speeding tickets can get expensive. Your license might also get points for speeding.
Tailgating is the unsafe practice of closely following the vehicle ahead of you. It increases the possibility of rear-end collisions because you don’t have enough room to respond if the other vehicle suddenly stops or changes direction.
Instead of tailgating the car or truck ahead of you, stay three seconds behind it. Increase the distance to four or five seconds on a highway or interstate.
Another way to maintain a safe distance is to stay one car length behind the other vehicle for every 10 miles of the speed limit.
Parking lots can surprise you. Drivers can get so caught up in hunting for an open parking space that they lose track of their surroundings and hit something.
Keep your eyes peeled out for anything that might hit your vehicle. Possible threats include vehicle doors and unsupervised kids running around.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. This way, you can reduce the chances that a part will fail and possibly cause you to crash your car.
Don’t try to predict what other drivers will do based on how you drive. You can’t read minds or see the future. Don’t assume everyone drives as carefully as you. Always err on the side of caution.
Going through a green light? Look left and right for anyone trying to beat a red light.
Always wear your seat belt. It’s designed to save your life during a collision. Make your passengers put on their belts as well.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.