What are the busiest times on the road?

The first big surge of heavy traffic, almost universally through the U.S. is in the early morning between 6am and 9am. The second huge surge, commonly called rush hour, is in the late afternoon from about 3pm to 6pm when everyone is getting off work. What are common times in the US when traffic is busiest?



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While mornings and afternoons are safer, there are some exceptions. Rush hour traffic, which typically runs from 8 AM to 10 AM in the morning, and then again from 4 PM to 7 PM in the evening, plays a part in safety too. With the influx of cars at these peak times, the roads become more dangerous.

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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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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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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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After Saturday, Friday and Thursday make a close second and third. However, aside from the week, certain holidays – centered around drinking or traveling home to family – are some of the worst for fatal car accidents: July 4th, as well as the day before.

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As most commuters know, some days are worse than others. Pile high demand (say, a Friday before a three-day weekend) on top of heavy rain and a lane-blocking crash, and you've got the ingredients for severe congestion.

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New York City has the worst rush hour traffic in the U.S., according to a TomTom study. TomTom recently published its 12th annual Traffic Index, which measures rush hour traffic in 389 cities in 56 countries on six continents.

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These tips for long drives will help you down the road.
  1. Get plenty of sleep before your drive. Think about exhaustion before you begin your journey, not after. ...
  2. Bring healthy road trip snacks. ...
  3. Stay hydrated. ...
  4. Plan your rest stops. ...
  5. Chew gum. ...
  6. Use energizing scents. ...
  7. Sit up straight. ...
  8. Keep passengers entertained.


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Largely because schools get out around that time. Put together the school and after school activity with the end of the work day for people who work 6:30 to 3:00, plus shoppers, and you can get more chaotic traffic than when most of the traffic is either coming from or going to work.

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