The weekend may have just passed, but here are some interesting statistics about weekend driving that could help you and your passengers safe.
More car collisions (17.8%) happen on a Friday than any other day of the week. These are likely to happen between the peak hours of 2 p.m.-6 p.m., coinciding with school commutes and workers leaving early for the start of the weekend, according to the latest report from
Youi NZ Insurance.
According to Youi, there's more to lose driving on the weekends. The report showed that 39.8% of crashes that occur on a Friday night, Saturday or Sunday involved a passenger as well as a driver – that’s 46.9% higher than other times of the week.
The average amount of damage to the car is 16.8% greater for collisions that occur on a Friday night, Saturday or Sunday than for collisions that occur during the rest of the week, the report said. When the crash occurs during dark hours (8 p.m. – 7 a.m.), the damage to the car is 50.5% higher on average than during daylight hours – this is even the case on weekdays.
Youi NZ Insurance has enumerated a few tips on how to be road smart.
- If you’ve got a long drive, consider catching a train instead.
- Always park carefully, as 26% of collisions occur when a car is parked. Parking between the lines to leave enough space between cars to protect your car from being hit will be worth it.
- Be extra patient in weekend traffic and avoid tailgating, for 24% of collisions are rear-end. Make sure mirrors are adjusted properly and take extra care in checking your blind spots before heading out.
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