In order to stay safe while riding your bike, it may help to know more about when fatal accidents take place. You may not be able to avoid the roads at these times, but being aware that they are high-risk times could help you keep your guard up so that you do not get into a crash.
According to reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most fatal bicycle crashes happen from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Some of this could be due to rush hour traffic levels, which tend to jump a bit after 5:00 p.m., and it could have something to do with the darkness and reduced visibility of early evening. This is especially true in the winter, though the NHTSA notes that these trends hold true in every season.
On top of that, it is worth noting that crashes happen more during these times on the weekends, which could be a nod toward the involvement of alcohol. On the weekends, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., a full 26 percent of fatalities occur. On weekdays, while it is still the most dangerous time to be on the road, the rate does drop a bit to 20 percent.
Again, total avoidance of risk may prove impossible. If you use your bike to commute, you have to ride in that rush hour traffic. But it still helps to know about the increased risk so that you can take other steps to protect yourself, like wearing bright colors and reflective clothes to make yourself more visible at night. If you do get hit by a car while riding your bike, make sure you also know what options you have to seek compensation for your injuries.
