Commuting to work is often frustrating and time-consuming. Professionals often resent the time spent driving to and from work each day. In some cases, a daily commute could also be dangerous.
Motorists are at risk of a crash whenever they are on the road. However, there are certain times when their chances of a collision are higher than usual.
According to federal collision data gathered by the National Safety Council (NSC), the afternoon rush hour on weekdays is the second most dangerous time for drivers to be on the road, after nighttime.
What factors make the afternoon commute so perilous?
As first-shift jobs end, large numbers of employees head home for the day. There may also be students on their way home after school. All of those vehicles on the road at once increase the risk of slowdowns, road rage and collisions.
Another reason that the afternoon rush hour can be dangerous is that many people decide to drive during the rush hour even though they probably shouldn’t. Some people are simply fatigued after long shifts at work. Although they are drowsy, they try to convince themselves that they are capable of driving home.
Others may have stopped at happy hour and are now too drunk to drive safely. Distracted driving is common as people finish up work or plan their evenings. When combined with dense traffic, unsafe drivers are a recipe for disaster.
All of those risk factors combined put people at elevated risk of collisions during their afternoon commutes. Holding drivers accountable after preventable car crashes can help people cover their property damage and injury-related expenses, including lost wages.