Take care on Fridays - it's the worst day for car crashes

A study found the end- of-the-week rush accounts for more than 17 per cent of accidents.

The worst time is between 4pm and 5pm, when millions of workers are heading for home.

Some 9.8 per cent of the day's accidents happen then.

"Friday is obviously the worst as the mentality is to rush home," said Steve Evans, the chief executive of motoring specialist Accident Exchange, which carried out the research.

"We've all done the daydream about what we're doing that night, or over the weekend.

"And anything less than 100 per cent concentration is a cause for distraction and accidents." Between 5pm and 6pm, 9.09 per cent of crashes occur. The next hour, 6-7pm, accounts for 7.19 per cent.

Meanwhile, the 8-9am rush hour claims 8.13 per cent of the day's accident, according to the research.

Although Friday is the day to steer clear of the roads for most of the year, it is a different story in the spring.

Experts found that during March, April and May, more crashes occur on a Wednesday.

The statistics suggest the better weather and stream of bank holidays affect the general trend, with 17.8 per cent of crashes happening on Wednesday and only 15.8 per cent on Friday.

Because of the Easter holidays and the May Day Bank Holiday, the amount of traffic on the roads on Fridays is said to be significantly less than normal.

Traffic on Good Friday last year was just one fifth of normal levels, according to AA Roadwatch.

As motorists look forward to long weekends, that "end of the week" feeling kicks in earlier.

Brian Gregory, chairman of the Association of British Drivers, said: "Maybe there's an element of midweek mini depression.

"Perhaps thoughts are not on the task of driving but thinking about last weekend or plans for the upcoming one. Another factor could be the distraction from the changing scenery that comes with spring."

In those months, 15.4 per cent of accidents happen on a Monday, 14.1 per cent on a Tuesday and 17.8 per cent on Wednesday, with the highest number reported from 5-6pm.

Thursday sees 15.6 per cent and Friday 15.8 per cent. The weekends are quieter still, with 11.6 per cent of accidents occurring on Saturday and 9.7 per cent on Sunday.

The analysis of 30,000 collisions in 2006 in England and Wales found that there is more chance of an accident between 8am and 9am or 5pm and 6pm.

Nearly a fifth of all accidents occurred during these times. The morning journey is particularly treacherous in the winter.

Mr Evans added: "It's clear the British motorist is most at risk when they leave for work, or start the school run, in the morning.

"Even so, the factors contributing to a car accident are so numerous that it's impossible to predict the chances of being involved in one."

The number of motorists on the roads will double over the Easter holiday. Three-quarters are expected to drive more than 50 miles, according to breakdown specialist Green Flag.

• The Highways Agency has spent £145,000 making a traffic jam. Officials have put more than 1,000 orange cones and CCTV cameras on a slip road leading to the M25 at junction 19, from Watford.

Their aim was to cause congestion. The six-week experiment was designed to discourage drivers turning off the M25 to avoid regular queues and to rejoin it later. This clogged up minor roads. But local councillors said the measure had simply diverted the problems elsewhere.