Traffic Crashes by Day and Hour in Florida
Traffic crashes are continually a leading cause of injury and death in Florida and across the country. Car crashes happen regularly, so there is no time that it is completely safe to be on the road. However, accident data does indicate that there are days and times when a collision is more likely.
Here, car accident lawyers from Chanfrau & Chanfrau present data released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, or FLHSMV, regarding traffic crashes by day and hour in Florida. This information gives drivers in Daytona Beach, FL, Palm Coast, FL and surrounding areas a better idea of the times in which car accidents are a particular risk.
Analyzing Accident Data
The FLHSMV has released their Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2018. This report includes accident data and car crash injury levels for the year, to provide greater insight into some of the most prominent accident risk factors in Florida. In this report, the FLHSMV break down accident data by the days and hours in which accidents occurred. By analyzing these data, we can let drivers know when the roads in Florida tend to be the most dangerous.
Days with the Highest Number of Car Crashes
Most people would probably assume that car crashes take place more frequently on the weekends, when people tend to be off of work and able to go out and enjoy social functions. However, according to data in the Traffic Crash Facts Report, Saturday and Sunday reported lower numbers of car crashes than every other week day. Taking into account accidents with all levels of injury (including those with no reported injuries) 127,947 accidents took place on Saturdays in 2018 and 107,322 accidents took place on Sundays in 2018.
During the week, accident levels were pretty consistent, from Monday through Thursday. On average, there were around 145,000 crashes reported on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in 2018.
The day of the week with the highest number of crashes for the year was Friday. Again, taking into account crashes with all levels of injury, there were 168,847 crashes reported on Fridays in 2018. The high number of crashes on Fridays can probably be explained by the fact that Fridays have both commuter traffic, as well as early weekend-related traffic.
Hours When Traffic Crashes are Most Likely
Based on data regarding traffic crashes and the hour of the day, it seems clear that the greatest number of accidents are linked to commuter traffic. When looking at data for accidents taking place Monday through Friday, the hours with the highest number of car crashes were between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Close behind in accident frequency were the hours of 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Both of these times of day are when the majority of people are traveling to and from work.
On the weekend, when most people are off of work, the hours with the highest number of reported accidents were different. On Saturdays and Sundays, more accidents took place in the afternoon, starting at 11:00 AM and extending through 2:00 PM, likely meaning that these are the weekend hours when more drivers are on the road.
Contact Us
If you have been injured in an accident, it is important to hold liable parties accountable for resulting damages. To learn how the car accident lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau can be of assistance following a crash, send us a message at your earliest convenience, or call our Daytona Beach office at (386) 258-7313.