ARE THERE MORE DANGEROUS TIMES OF YEAR TO DRIVE?

 

Did you know that there are certain times of the year when you are more likely be in a car crash? In Alabama and Florida, Spring Break and from Memorial Day through Labor Day sees the interstates, especially I65 from Cullman through Montgomery, Highway 231 from Dothan to Panama City, Highway 331 from Montgomery to Destin, and both I20 from Pensacola to Jacksonville and I75 to Orlando become parking lots as everyone east of the Mississippi heads to the Panhandle beaches and Disney. Thanksgiving and Christmas are particularly dangerous to travel as the roads are busy with family gatherings. Throw in drinking on New Year’s Eve, the 4^th of July, and St. Patrick’s Day. God help everyone if it happens to snow down here. Just stay home and eat your bread and drink milk. Longer travel times and fatigue, distracted driving, drinking and driving, and road rage lead to a higher risk of crashes and especially fatal crashes during these times.

Davidson Law has offices in Birmingham and Panama City so we can be both local to you and the Emerald Coast beaches. We also maintain close relationships with injury firms across Florida to act as co-counsel so we can help you across the entire state.

 

WHAT DAYS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS TO DRIVE?

 

Friday afternoons and evenings see people in a hurry to get home from work and then go out to start the weekend. We see a lot of rear-end collisions and crashes caused from blowing through red lights and stop signs. But it’s Saturdays. It’s always Saturdays. Lots of drivers out and about having too much fun and in a big hurry to get to wherever they are going to have it. Drinking and driving, car karaoke, and carrying on with passengers distracts from the road. That’s why Davidson Law answers the phones on weekends and is ready to start investigating the crash immediately.

 

WHAT TIME OF DAY IS MOST DANGEROUS TO DRIVE?

 

Rush hour, typically between 7-9 in the morning and 4-6 in the evening, sees crowded roads as people make their way to and from work. More vehicles means more crashes. Anyone driving on I65 within an hour either direction of Birmingham, Mobile, or Montgomery, Highway 280 from Harpersville to Birmingham, or Highway 231 through “the circle” of Dothan during rush hours knows this to be a fact. Driving at night is also more dangerous. Many people simply cannot see well at night. Then you have more drinking and driving, fatigue, and dangerous passing which all lead to a higher rate of fatal wrecks.

 

WHERE DO MOST CRASHES HAPPEN?

1. Within two miles of your house.

We’ve been told this forever and its true. It’s partially because of odds. You’re within two miles of your house more than any other place so, statistically, that’s likely to be where you are in a wreck. You are also a lot more comfortable in this familiar area and this leads to not paying as close attention, letting your guard down, or taking unnecessary risks. Ever met someone coming around the bend in the middle of a dirt road? Odds are that person lives close by and “knows” the road.

2. Intersections and Roundabouts

This is probably the most likely place to be in car crash that I have seen in the past 25 years. Why? Because drivers aren’t paying attention or are in too big of a hurry and there’s a lot going on at intersections.

The most common is a rear-end crash usually because, you guessed it, looking at a phone instead of the road. Put that damn thing down. The second most common cause of a rear-end collision at an intersection is tailgating and/or stopping too close to the car in front of you. It’s your responsibility to keep a safe stopping distance between you and the car ahead of you which is at least a car length at lower speeds. You should stop your car leaving enough space to see the bottom of the tires of the car in front of you. So, knock off the tailgating. It’s stupid and causes wrecks and road rage.

The second most common crashes at intersections are T-bone collisions. Yep, looking at a phone and blowing through the intersection is usually the reason. T-bone collisions almost always result in serious injuries. The speeds are multiplied by the movement of both cars. The side impacts cause your body to move sideways or twist that cause specific injuries to the body. There’s also much less protection and absorption of the impact forces by the car than in a frontal or rear-end collision. These means your body is going to take a lot more of the hit.

I have a whole video on roundabouts. Go watch it if you don’t know how yielding and driving in a circle works. Please and thank you.

3. Rural Roads

Rural roads, paved or dirt, can be especially dangerous. These roads are often narrow, curvy, less maintained, lack warning signage, and are poorly or not lit at all. Combine these physical traits with a lack of law enforcement making speeding easy increasing the chances of crashes either with another car or, often, a single car crash. I see single car fatality crashes all the time in rural areas where someone, often a teenager, is driving too fast and runs off into the woods. In a tree versus car fight, the tree is going to win.

Deer causes more property damage to cars in Alabama than anything else. The only way to avoid these hooved, car seeking, missiles is to be vigilant of your surroundings. If you see deer on the road slow down. There’s hardly ever just one. Hitting a deer at higher speeds will total your vehicle and could cost you your life.

4. Parking Lots

Let’s face it. Have you ever been to the grocery store or Wal-Mart and not either almost been in a minor collision or seen one? Drivers backing out of spaces, pulling through spaces, racing to get into that coveted parking space, and cutting through the lot lead to collisions with other vehicles. There are lots of blind spots, lots of vehicles, and lots of people. Pedestrians are increasingly being struck either due to the carelessness of the driver or their own carelessness (put that phone away). Additionally, road rage is on the rise and is very common in parking lots where everyone is in a hurry and everyone is already stopped making confrontations easy.

5. Highways and Interstates

The most serious crashes resulting in catastrophic injuries and deaths occur on the highways and interstates. Speed is the primary culprit here. Speed kills. The faster you are going the higher the forces on the car and your body in a crash. Your chances of surviving a crash at speeds over 80 mph are slim. Another culprit is the increased presence of semitrucks. If you get hit by one of these on the highway, you likely aren’t going walk away. Tractor-trailer driver fatigue, speed, and inattention cause the majority of these usually fatal crashes. However, other vehicles cutting them off, passing dangerously close, or stupidly brake checking them also cause collisions. Do I get angry when two rigs take up both lanes at 10 mph under the speed limit. You bet. But not angry enough to die over it.

7. Construction Zones

Construction zones are particularly dangerous due to changing traffic patterns, reduced or narrower lanes, distractions from people who’ve never seen an orange barrel before, congestion, and often poor road conditions. The presence of workers, equipment, and shifts in road layouts demands lower speeds and more concentration.

 

TIPS FOR SAFE DRIVING

 

During Rush Hour

• Allow extra travel time. You know you need it.
• Don’t tailgate. Seriously, you won’t get there any faster.
• Pay attention, put the phone away, eat that biscuit later.
• Use apps like Waze to avoid backed up or stopped traffic.
• Relax, guy! Road rage = crashes, jail, the hospital, or the morgue.

Driving at Night

• Always use your high beams when you can. Unless you already have those cornea burning headlights then just stay at home.
• Slow down. You can’t stop for what you can’t see. You already can’t stop in time for anything within your headlights.
• Be extra cautious in poorly lit areas and watch for people walking or on bicycles.
• Keep your windshield clean to improve visibility.

Winter Roads in Alabama and Florida

• No, you don’t know how drive on snow and ice. Stay home.

During Holidays

• Plan routes ahead and try to avoid peak travel times.
• Always make sure your vehicle is in good condition before a long trip.
• Drive sober!
• Keep an emergency kit in your car.
• Take breaks on long trips to avoid fatigue.

 

WHAT DO I DO IF I'M IN A CAR CRASH?

 

If you find yourself involved in a car crash, it is important to stay calm and follow these immediate steps. First, check for any injuries and call 911 if anyone needs medical attention. If it is safe to do so, move your vehicle to a secure location to avoid disrupting traffic. Exchange information with the other drivers involved, including names, contact details, and insurance information. Taking photos of the accident scene, the vehicles, and any visible damages can provide valuable evidence later. Gather witness statements if there are any eyewitnesses who saw the accident occur, as their testimony can be beneficial for insurance claims and legal proceedings. The cops probably aren’t going to do this for you.

After monitoring everyone’s safety and documenting the scene, it is important to get legal advice to protect your rights and deal with the aftermath of the accident. Contact a reputable car crash law firm like Davidson Law for help in Birmingham, Pelham, Tuscaloosa, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville, Dothan or any where in Alabama and Panama City, Destin, Mexico Beach, Pensacola or any where in Florida. As an experienced accident and injury lawyer of over 25 years, I can help you understand your rights, what to do next, and take all the legal problems off your shoulders. If you don’t get a lawyer, keep a journal of your injuries, medical treatments, medical bills, as well as any communications with insurance companies. Always get the insurance company to confirm everything in writing.