Weekends lead to higher crash rates

You need to be wary of the accident risks that you face every single time you get behind the wheel. Regardless of the day of the week or the time of day, you could get hit by a careless, negligent driver. For many age groups, car accidents are a top reason for accidental injury and death.

That said, the weekends are decidedly more dangerous than weekdays. Reports consistently see an increase in accidents over the weekend, and drivers need to be aware of this risk. If you can drive during the week and avoid doing so on the weekends, you can make yourself far less likely to get injured in a crash.

Why do car accidents increase on the weekends? Alcohol is a big reason. People spend more time out with their friends, they’re more likely to stay out late drinking, and then they’re more likely to drive home while buzzed or even fully intoxicated. That’s not to say this doesn’t happen on, say, a Tuesday evening, but it just happens more on the weekends.

The time of day also plays a role. Drivers are three times more likely to be drunk at night. The weekends cater to staying up late and drinking more than the weekdays, so driving after dark is more common and more dangerous. If you have to drive on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it is safest to do it in the morning or the middle of the day, staying off the roads after dark.

Knowing how accidents happen can help you avoid them, but nothing guarantees it. Be sure you know what rights you have if you get injured in an accident.