Millions of Brits are set to take to the roads this Bank Holiday weekend, but fresh research suggests the greatest danger may lurk when roads seem emptiest. Analysis by Confused.com, using Department for Transport data, reveals the most hazardous times to drive relative to traffic volume.
Rhydian Jones, car insurance expert at Confused.com, said: 'The late afternoon sees the highest number of collisions because the roads are busy. But when we look at the risk per vehicle, it's the late-night and early-morning hours that are proportionately the most dangerous.' The study found that Sunday between midnight and 1am is the riskiest hour of the weekend.
Almost one in three motorists admit to breaking speed limits, with more than a quarter more inclined to speed when traffic is lighter. Factors such as poor visibility, driver fatigue, and a higher chance of drink-driving compound the danger during these quiet periods.
By contrast, the safest times to drive are in the early morning. Weekdays between 5am and 7am carry the lowest risk, with Wednesday 5am to 6am being the safest hour of the week. On weekends, 9am to 10am emerges as the lowest-risk period.
When considering total collisions, the busiest crash period is 5pm to 6pm, coinciding with school pick-ups and the evening commute. Nationally, there were 100,927 injury collisions recorded over the last year. Confused.com's interactive 'Safety Index' tool aims to help drivers plan safer journeys.
