Report reveals that drivers have slightly more chances of having an accident on Sunday and Thursday
According to a data-driven study conducted by Oman Insurance, one of the leading car insurers in the UAE, based on available claims data with the insurer, the highest number of motor accidents, as reported to the insurer, happened between 1pm and 5pm.
As per the study, people have 20% more chances of having an accident during these times than during rush hours, it was revealed in a press statement.
These results may seem counter intuitive. With more people in the office and less cars on the road, there should be less accidents in the afternoon. While Oman Insurance’s claims data does not give reasons for the increased frequency, one can speculate that the end of the school day could be a reason, with people rushing to pick up kids and driving them back home.
Another cause could be that drivers lose focus due to the heat and intense brightness of the afternoon sun. Lastly, with less traffic people tend to drive faster, which often correlates with more accidents.
The motor claims study further reveals that the timing pattern for accidents is similar for men and women drivers and across all days of the week except Friday, where 7-9 pm is the peak accident hour. Well, this could be due to all the party lovers stepping out to socialize!
“Traditionally, these insights are generated by insurers to understand accident patterns and define price. The key insight here is don’t take your eyes off the road, especially during the afternoon,” commented Julien Audrerie, Head of Consumer Lines, Oman Insurance.
The study, done over two years of claim data, also indicates that drivers have slightly more chances of having an accident on Sunday and Thursday, the press note concluded.
