Additionally, Nationwide's identified Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. as the most aggressive time of the week for drivers. (Photo: Shutterstock)
If there was ever a day to stay off the road, it's today: August 2 is the deadliest driving day of the year, according to Nationwide.
Aggregated data was collected through Nationwide's SmartRide program from drivers across 22 states. (Photo: Bloomberg) There were more traffic fatalities (505) due to motor vehicle crashes on this date than any other of the calendar year over a five-year span (2012-2016), according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Deadly driving rampant in August
15,914 people died in motor vehicle crashes in August during a five-year span (2012-2016), ranking it as the deadliest driving month of the year. Nationwide members reported more accidents in August 2016 (60,976) than any other month over the last four years.
Based on more than 600,000 members and more than 1.3 million vehicles enrolled in Nationwide's SmartRide program last August, hard braking, fast accelerations and time spent idling were identified as factors known to contribute to auto accidents.
Additionally, Nationwide's identified Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. as the most aggressive time of the week for drivers. During this timeframe, drivers' habits behind the wheel show more instances of hard braking and faster accelerations than any other time of the week.
"When drivers are armed with this information, they can make necessary adjustments to their driving behaviors that will help them be safer drivers," Teresa Scharn, Nationwide associate vice president who helps build and manage the insurer's telematics program, said in a statement.
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