Is traffic worse in the morning or evening?

Before the pandemic, traffic in most U.S. cities followed a similar pattern: a peak around 6 a.m. and another, slightly higher one around 5 p.m. But now, the number of drivers on the road increases throughout the day, with a sharp rise in the morning that balloons into a higher peak in the evening.



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The main causes of bad traffic in the morning are rush hour, construction, accidents, bad weather, and events. You can avoid bad traffic by leaving early, taking a different route, using public transportation, or working from home.

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Today, it's best to get on the roads before 7 a.m. and tomorrow before 11 a.m. As for the weekend, the best times on Saturday and Monday are in the evening, around 6 or 7 p.m. Experts say that Sunday is statistically the lightest traffic day so that might be a good time to hit the road, as well.

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Rush hour traffic, typically, lasts a few hours, peaking in the morning from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and in the evening from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. or later in larger cities. Drivers in a rush tend to drive more dangerously, which increases the likelihood of causing an accident.

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Earlier is better when getting on the highway, especially during a long weekend. “If you can get up and get out early, 8 in the morning or earlier,” Treanor said. “You're going to avoid more traffic than if you wait.” Most travelers are anticipated to hit the road Friday after work, to get the long weekend started.

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Rush Hour. Evening rush hour (between 4 and 7 p.m. weekdays) is a dangerous time to drive due to crowded roadways and drivers eager to get home after work. In winter, it's dark during rush hour, compounding an already dangerous driving situation.

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If you are trying to decide the best time to leave for a road trip, it is early in the morning between 5:00 am and 6:00 am. This is because there is less traffic on the roads and statistically the fewest amount of accidents during this time frame.

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If you are looking for the best day to drive long-distance, Sunday is the day that tends to have the least amount of traffic on the roads.

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Rush hour traffic, typically, lasts a few hours, peaking in the morning from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and in the evening from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. or later in larger cities.

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The best time of day to start a road trip and travel by car is early in the morning, before rush hour. You should plan to leave around 6:00 AM if you're only driving a short distance and even earlier for long trips. Starting in the mornings is safer due to less traffic and fewer accidents.

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While it's important to note that the best day of the week to fly varies based on the route, typically, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The general rule is that mid-week flights will be cheaper and quieter.

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But your body's worked up — your heart's pounding and your breathing is rapid and shallow, as if something bad is going to happen,” Dr. Rock says. The perception of being stuck is something that contributed to anxiety because you feel like you can't do anything to escape the situation, Dr. Rock says.

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If you are looking for the best day to drive long-distance, Sunday is the day that tends to have the least amount of traffic on the roads. However, Tuesdays have the least amount of crashes according to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

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A Danish study found that long-term exposure to traffic air pollution may increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They found that those most at risk were people who already had asthma or diabetes.

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