[StBernard] The Deadliest Days Of the Year to Drive

[Westley Annis]

The Deadliest Days
Of the Year to Drive


40,000 in U.S. Die Each Year on the Road

By Ellen Learner



There are those who, by reason of deep-seated fear, won't get into
airplanes. Some people avoid elevators, others sports stadiums. And even
though it's almost impossible to stay out of cars, it's pretty much a
guarantee that a disaster is going to hit a highway near you. But for those
who are nervous when getting into a car, there's good news: we can now tell
you which days to leave the car in the garage. You might have guessed it
from the old truisms and the increased number of troopers, radar guns at the
ready, hiding under bridges, but now we have the numbers to prove what we
once surmised: the holidays and weekends are no time to be traveling by car.


10 Deadliest Days of the Year To Drive

1. July 4 
2. July 3 
3. December 23
4. August 3 
5. January 1 
6. August 6 
7. August 4 
8. August 12 
9. July 2 
10. September 2 

Vacations and driving don't mix 
The Fourth of July, sadly, is the day that we kill each other in the highest
numbers on the road. Between 1986 and 2002 there were, on the average, 161
people killed on our highways and byways on Independence Day. July 3 is the
second-deadliest day, followed by a
hurrying-home-for-the-holiday-but-going-to-the-cemetery-instead Dec. 23. New
Year's Day and Labor Day are in the running as well. Naturally, the
increased numbers on the road are a factor, but as we all know,
holidays+drinking=more deaths.

Death takes a holiday
Perhaps you can't avoid the trips to the in-laws on the holiday, but you can
choose when to vacation. The statistics would suggest that you stay out of
the car and stick to the beach in August. Deaths are directly related to the
number of miles driven, and August, our biggest month for driving, averages
the greatest number of crash deaths (132) per day. Prefer to pick one day
per week? Saturday is the cruelest day of all, and weekend evenings from 9
PM to 10 PM is the most dangerous hour. 

When even walking gets scary
If you're a pedestrian, you shouldn't be walking home from your New Year's
Eve party-Jan. 1, besides being one of the top 5 days for crash deaths, it's
No.1 for pedestrian deaths. Parents should be advised to watch their kids on
Halloween. The drivers are scarier than the ghosts, witches or headless
horsemen: Day No. 2 for pedestrian deaths, frighteningly, is Oct. 31. 

Alas, knowledge is power
Mark these days on your calendar, and if you have to get behind the wheel,
buckle your seat belt (as always), drive extra defensively. And of course,
don't drink and drive. 

More Deadly Days
In addition to the deadliest days here are some other interesting facts. The
deadliest month to drive is August. The deadliest day of the week is
Saturday and the deadliest time of day is 3:00-6:00pm.


Deadliest Month to Drive
1. August
2. October
3. July
4. November
5. September

Deadliest Day of the Week to Drive
1. Saturday
2. Friday
3. Thursday
4. Wednesday
5. Monday
6. Tuesday
7. Sunday 

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "Traffic Safety
Facts 2003"