Driving home after a long day of work or school can be one of the most mind-numbing tasks someone experiences throughout their day. Sitting bumper to bumper in traffic and praying for no future accidents that will impede traffic: one of life’s not-so-great moments.
According to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), around 75% of people are working a job that begins from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This high number of people all working at the same time creates a huge spike in traffic throughout the day around the times these people start their day at work and end it.
In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that around 9,500 people died in motor accidents alone. The death toll from this year saw a 7% increase from last year. However, with three months left in the year, this number can increase before the year ends. Personally, I have found that taking alternative routes home and cutting through traffic can greatly cut down the time between you leaving work or school and getting home. Using these methods and leaving earlier when possible is the best possible way to avoid major traffic during rush hour, 5 p.m..