New Orleans has a sizable number of car accidents every year. There are plenty of reasons that this was the case, but chief among them is that New Orleans had (and still has) a serious traffic congestion problem.
On average, drivers in New Orleans lose 39 hours every year to traffic. And that intense gridlock can cause accidents, especially when drivers aren’t prepared for it or are driving distracted. Therefore, if you regularly drive in New Orleans, it helps to know when traffic is at its worst so you can take steps to avoid it.
Rush Hour
As is true of most U.S. cities, “Rush Hour” is one of the worst times to drive through any part of New Orleans as well. Countless people travel to and from work between the hours of 7 and 9 a.m. and then between 4 and 6 p.m.
If you work during those hours or simply need to travel anywhere near downtown during them, the best thing you can do is use public transportation. Doing so will greatly decrease the likelihood that you will be involved in a car accident due to groggy morning drivers or annoyed evening drivers who just want to get home.
Mardi Gras
During Mardi Gras, the city closes several of its downtown streets as a means of both accommodating the countless people who are partying in the streets and limiting the number of DUI accidents during the festivities.
Unfortunately, that has the side effect of making traffic completely unbearable during Mardi Gras and its surrounding weeks. With so many roads closed, thousands of drivers are forced onto smaller roads that aren’t designed to handle the city’s general influx of traffic.
Even worse, people celebrating the holiday tend to explore all over the city, so if you attempt to drive around the downtown area, you will often be stuck as a group of partiers wanders across a road with little to no concern for the people simply trying to travel past.
Sundays During Football Season
New Orleans is also home to the Saints, a very popular football team. On game day, thousands drive to the various parking garages located near the Superdome, potentially causing traffic to build up over several blocks or even miles, depending on where people park.
If you can avoid driving anywhere near the Superdome on game day, that is your best bet. Only half of the Sundays during football season involve home games, and traffic is usually only bad for a couple of hours.
Summer
Last but certainly not least, New Orleans is a historic southern town located near the Gulf of Mexico. Tourism, therefore, is common year-round, but it spikes during the summer months when children are out of school and people are more likely to take longer vacations. As such, its roads are undoubtedly more crowded throughout the season.
Furthermore, these drivers typically come from other states and are driving rented vehicles, which is a recipe for driver error. Additionally, because rented cars usually have Louisiana plates, it can be hard to identify out-of-state visitors.
The best way to avoid the worst of summer traffic is to avoid tourist spots during the nicest days of the season. If you want to go to the beach, it might be best to find a more out-of-the-way or lesser-known spot.
Avoiding Traffic Can Avoid Accidents
The more cars on the road, the more likely you are to get into an accident. Nevertheless, by understanding New Orleans’ traffic patterns, you can keep yourself and your loved ones safer no matter when you decide to hit the road.
Contact a New Orleans, LA Car Accident Lawyer from Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in New Orleans, LA today. We have three convenient locations in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette.
We proudly serve East Baton Rouge Parish, Lafayette Parish, Orleans Parish, and its surrounding areas:
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Baton Rouge Office
404 Europe Street
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70124
(225) 263-4787
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – New Orleans Office
318 Harrison Avenue Suite 107
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70802
(504) 294-3804
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Lafayette Office
1318 Camellia Boulevard Suite 206
Lafayette, Louisiana, 70508
(337) 473-2991