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New Data Reveals the Morning Rush Hour is the Safest Time to Drive in Georgia

Friday, December 8th, 2023

New data reveals the safest time to drive in Georgia - and surprisingly, it turns out the morning rush hour is the least riskiest time to be on the road 

  • The findings follow an analysis of crash data reported by the Georgia Department of Transportation over the last five years 
  • Just 1.6% of the accidents that occur in Georgia around 8 a.m. result in a serious injury or fatality - 50% lower than the state average 
  • A personal injury expert encourages drivers to remain calm during rush hour - especially ahead of the busy festive shopping season 
New data has identified the safest time to drive in Georgia - with 8 a.m. revealed as the hour when the fewest number of accidents result in a serious injury or death. 
 
The findings were provided by experienced personal injury attorneys John Foy & Associates after analyzing crash data from the Georgia Department of Transportation spanning the last five years - which was used to identify the riskiest time to be on the state’s roads.
 
And it turns out that despite rush hour being commonly considered the most dangerous time for drivers, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. is the safest time to be on Georgia’s roads. 
 
This is because just 1.6% of crashes that took place at 8 a.m. in the Peach State resulted in a serious injury or fatality - which is less than half of the average hourly rate of 3.2%. 
 
The risk rises slightly the hour before at 7 a.m., with 1.8% of road accidents proving serious at this time. The risk is equally steady at 9 a.m., with 1.8% of accidents considered serious. 

This goes against popular conception, as rush hour is generally considered the most dangerous time to drive in the US, as increased congestion and stop-and-go traffic can lead to a higher likelihood of collisions, as many drivers get frustrated and impatient. 

However, it seems that this isn’t the case in Georgia, as the likelihood of being killed or seriously injured in an accident during the morning rush hour is 75% lower than the most dangerous time to drive in the state - 2 a.m., which reports 6.4% of accidents as serious.
 
After the morning rush, the most dangerous time to drive in Georgia is 10 a.m. - which is still significantly safer than any hour during the night. At that time, just under 2% of accidents caused a serious injury or death - two-thirds (69%) lower than the risk reported at 2 a.m. 
 
The five safest hours to drive in Georgia 

Rank
Hour of Day
Proportion of crashes that result in a serious injury or death
1
8 a.m.
1.62%
2
7 a.m.
1.78%
3
9 a.m.
1.79%
4
12 p.m.
1.82%
5
3 p.m.
1.88%

 

During the evening rush hour, the riskiest time for drivers to be on the road came out as 4 p.m., with just 0.3% of crashes proving serious, followed by 5 p.m. (1.9% of crashes). 
 
However, morning traffic is likely to increase in the next few weeks as Georgia residents look to get started with their Christmas shopping - with most malls opening at 10 a.m.

A spokesperson at John Foy & Associates says staying calm is key to navigating increased traffic, as they say: “Driving during a congested window can be dangerous in any state, as drivers contend with limited visibility that can make it difficult to spot other vehicles or hazards, on top of the natural fatigue that occurs in the morning - particularly for those of us who’ve struggled to fall asleep the night before.

“In the early morning, there’s also an increased likelihood of encountering drivers who are hoping to get to the shops before work or who are starting a full day of festive shopping - which is likely to rise further as we get closer to Black Friday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

“It’s important that any drivers on Georgia’s roads are especially aware of their surroundings and how they feel during rush hour, as it may prove easier to ignore the warning signs of fatigue or road rage when keeping an eager eye on the time.”