[PBARC] Driving safety

[WOLF, EARNEST G]

The Deadliest Days
Of the Year to Drive


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

 <http://www.insurance.com/> 

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

Deadliest Time of Day to Drive
1. 3:00 - 6:00pm 
2. 6:00 - 9:00pm
3. 9:00 - Midnight
4. Noon - 3:00pm
5. Midnight - 3:00am

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