Worst times to travel by road When analysing data from all 25 towns and cities we found that the peak hours for traffic congestion were 8am to 9am and 5pm to 6pm – with Wednesday afternoons being the UK's busiest time of the week for road users.
What is the least busiest day of the week on the road?
What are the quietest days to drive? Commuting is a little quieter on Mondays in many UK cities. Sunday is often the best day to go on a sightseeing trip whilst avoiding traffic – especially if you set off earlier on before many of the shops open and the usual 'Sunday drivers' venture out.
What day of the week do most traffic accidents occur?
In the spring and summer, Saturdays between 8 p.m. and midnight are when most fatal car crashes occur. From November through March, the peak time for fatal motor vehicle crashes is between 4 and 8 p.m., according to the NSC.
Travel requires thoughtful preparation and proactive safety measures. Starting your trip before 10 a.m. can help you avoid heavy traffic while steering clear of the 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. window minimizes accident risks.
Weekday rush-hours to be avoided if possible are 6am-10am and 4pm-8pm. The best time to travel on a motorway to avoid weekend congestion is early morning Saturday or after 6pm, before congestion becomes more likely around 11am Sunday.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 40,000 people in the U.S. die each year on the road and the Fourth of July is the deadliest day.
The study highlights that Monday and Friday mornings are statistically the lightest for traffic. For many drivers, these days represent a silver lining. One theory is that more people might be opting for a long weekend or a remote workday, reducing the number of vehicles on the road.
The data consistently points to drivers in their teens and early twenties as the highest-risk group. Here's a statistic that hits hard: nearly six young drivers between 15 and 20 years old are killed in car crashes every day, adding up to more than 2,000 teenagers lost each year.
The NHTSA reports that Tuesday is the safest day to drive as there are the least number of auto accidents to report. For instance, while Saturdays average 6,826 crashes, Tuesdays average 4,455. As far as the best times to drive, traffic picks up during "rush hour" when Americans are on their way to and from work.
Saturdays aren't too bad for traffic, but mornings are preferable. London roads tend to be quiet on weekend mornings, and the traffic builds up from lunchtime onwards as people head out to do their shopping etc.
Research studies often point toward midweek as the safest period to be on the road. Wednesday, in particular, is commonly cited as a day with lower accident rates and reduced instances of aggressive driving.
According to recent surveys, while 18% of people reported that Monday is the day they experience the most stress, 54% agreed that if they manage stress well on Monday, it helps them reduce stress the rest of the week.
The superstition that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day has been around for the past 100 years. But it doesn't have the ancient origins that many might expect. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day.
The 71-year-old actor - who starred as Detective Inspector Yan Naing Lee opposite Chris Tucker's Detective James Carter in the action/comedy trilogy - is set to return for a fourth film, and Chan has now insisted 'Rush Hour 4' is still in the works.
Earlier is always better if you are getting out on the highways. Give yourself plenty of time and head out in the morning early to avoid traffic. Statistically, Tuesday mornings between 3am and 6am are the times when the least number of cars are on the road, and thereby, the safest.
Planning ahead is key when it comes to driving during rush hour. Give yourself extra time to reach your destination, and use a GPS or map to find alternate routes to avoid heavy traffic. Knowing the traffic patterns and construction zones ahead of time can help you avoid stress and frustration on the road.
In terms of the work week, congestion is lower on Mondays. Cities still experience rush hours on the weekends, but traffic is lower than weekdays at similar times.
Roads before 6am are lovely - it's like covid. Distinct increase from 6am but still quiet until about 7. After that it is very dependent on where you are,some places are fine until 8, others are bad from 7.
55 mph is the safest speed when driving on a rural highway. Meanwhile, on residential roads, the recommended speed is between 10 and 25 mph. When managing your ride's speed, you must consider factors like road conditions, weather, and traffic flow.
Tuesday and Friday flights can help you avoid the rush earlier in the week. Sundays and Mondays are the most expensive days to depart for domestic trips. If you can't fly on the cheapest days, flying on Tuesdays or Fridays might also be a good option.
If it comes to reliability, early morning flights mainly have the priority over late night flights. Early morning flights benefit from a fresh start, aircrafts are already at the airport, crew members are fresh and well-rested, also there's less air traffic and less delays.
As for which day of the week to go in, "Monday is usually the best day of the week to buy a car" since "showrooms will be the least busy," said MarketWatch. However, Tuesday or Wednesday can also be a good bet, especially in areas where dealerships aren't open on Sundays, said Edmunds.
