What time of day are roads least busy?

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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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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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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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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WHEN WE TRAVEL
  • The most daily trips are made on Friday (16 percent)
  • The fewest daily trips are made on Sunday (13 percent)
  • More daily trips are taken between noon and 1 p.m. (7.4 percent) than between 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. (5.5 percent)


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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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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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In the UK, the impact of all traffic hotspots in London, and the potential cost to drivers, is 15 times higher than that of the second ranked city, Edinburgh. Glasgow and Birmingham follow, with Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff, Bradford and Belfast rounding out the top ten.

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