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Fatal Friday 13th?
Friday 13 could mean bad luck for road users with more deaths and injuries on Friday evenings than at any other time of the week.
And while paraskevidekatriaphobics — people afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th – will be staying in doors, the quarter of people who are superstitious about the number will be extra cautious on their drive to work.
But is there any evidence to suggest that you are more likely to be involved in a traffic accident on Friday 13 than at other times? According to the RAC Foundation, while the link between Friday 13 and road accidents is tenuous, the proof of a connection between Fridays generally and having an accident is irrefutable.
The only study* to look at this possible association was undertaken more than ten years ago and concluded that the risk of hospital admission as a result of a transport accident may be increased by as much as 52 per cent on Friday 13.
Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation said:
"Friday and in particular Friday evening is definitely the worst day of the week for fatalities and serious injuries on the road. "
"But the figures from the Friday 13 study might be more to do with human psychology than luck. People who believe in the superstition could be more anxious and drive less well making the likelihood of an accident more pronounced."
The RAC Foundation has analysed the latest Government statistics - "Road Casualties Great Britain 2004 " - to look for road accident trends and found that more car users are killed and injured between 4 and 6 pm on a Friday night than at any other time during the week.
The 2004 figures show that on Fridays:
• Between 4pm and 6pm 352 car users were killed or seriously injured
On any other weekday:
• Between 4pm and 6pm it’s 287
The fatal Friday evening trend seems to be a worldwide phenomenon with similar peaks from Hawaii to Tasmania.
In Great Britain on Saturdays the peak is 11pm and on Sundays between 4pm and 6pm. The early evening fatal Friday trend is also reflected in the figures for cyclists and pedestrians.
Road users should be aware of safety at all times, however these figures suggest that motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are more at risk on early Friday evenings. The fatal Friday phenomenon, is probably caused by motorists switching off early, fatigue after a long week and the "thank God it’s Friday " effect.
The majority of injury accidents happen in urban and residential areas, close to junctions and close to home. We are asking all motorists to concentrate on the road ahead rather than the weekend ahead this and every Friday.
Many motorists seem to switch off and turn on to auto-pilot when a couple of miles from home and this is when they are most dangerous. They know the roads so do not concentrate and this is when they often fail to stop. Mentally many motorists will be rushing home with too many things on their mind. This can lead to increased speeds and lack of hazard perception.
Don’t make Friday 13 an unlucky one for you or other road users
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