Why is there less traffic on a Friday Morning?

[talksthetalk]

Having driven in all directions from various places for the last twelve years, I have noticed that there is a lot less traffic on a Friday Morning than any other morning or evening of the week.

My first thought when I noticed this is that everyone has chucked a sicky/holiday in for a cheeky long weekend, but that soon went out of the window when I drove home that Friday night, the worst night of the week.
I also stop in hotels a lot during the week and have not noticed that Thursday nights are harder to book, so a higher proportion of Thursday nights near where you're going can't be the answer in my opinion.
Anyone got any theories on this?

[Blayney]

Perception?

I personally only notice increased traffic on wet days (everyone is going slower/is scared) or bank holiday fridays - everyone is off somewhere.

[mikefacel]

I've noticed this and always assumed it was fewer sales reps on the roads - they often make Friday their paperwork/phone day, at least in companies I've been in.

[ARobinson]

I know a few people who work from home on Fridays also.

And as mentioned some reps don't drive around on Fridays.

Friday mornings are always quiet on the roads is great! Shame about getting home.

Different months have different traffic too, with the autumn being particularly bad, November is always st.

[Ozzie Osmond]

..because traffic on a Friday afternoon is insane. People who don't need to travel on a Fiday avoid it like the plague as they know it will be murder getting home in the afternoon.

Peak hours for accidents in the UK are Friday 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm.

[John D.]

Commuter trains are definately more quiet on a Friday too. I assume it is people working from home or taking long weekends.

[Truckosaurus]

ARobinson said:

I know a few people who work from home on Fridays also.

This. Our office car park is deserted on a Friday.

[robinessex]

Many companies have half days on Friday. Quite a few are now 4 days per week. Imagine if the government promoted a 4 day working week !! An immediate loss of 20% of the traveling public. Rush hours reduced. Traffic jams relieved. Motorways unclogged. Never happen though, because governments are incapable of lateral thinking.

[dowahdiddyman]

Has been like this for years,going down the M1 towards the M25 on a Friday morning is very quiet, now try it at the same time on a Monday.

[mercfunder]

As stated most sales guys have Friday as an admin day, why is it there is virtually no traffic at all when the schools are off, can't all be school run mums.

[ewenm]

mercfunder said:

As stated most sales guys have Friday as an admin day, why is it there is virtually no traffic at all when the schools are off, can't all be school run mums.

Many working parents take time off for school holidays too.

[GTIR]

Friday mornings is always quiter.

It wasn't that long ago that Sunday afternoon was normal "Sunday afternoon" traffic. Now it's the same as a weekday.
Sunday morning is the quitest day, oddly.

[mercfunder]

ewenm said:

mercfunder said:

As stated most sales guys have Friday as an admin day, why is it there is virtually no traffic at all when the schools are off, can't all be school run mums.

Many working parents take time off for school holidays too.

Every school holiday?
Just seems to be a massive drop in commuting traffic when the schools are shut, as most people get about 30 days holiday a year they can't all be off every school holiday.

[Dr Jekyll]

mercfunder said:

Every school holiday?
Just seems to be a massive drop in commuting traffic when the schools are shut, as most people get about 30 days holiday a year they can't all be off every school holiday.

But a lot of them are, so it's far more than just teachers and school runners who are off the road.

[ewenm]

mercfunder said:

Every school holiday?
Just seems to be a massive drop in commuting traffic when the schools are shut, as most people get about 30 days holiday a year they can't all be off every school holiday.

Not everyone every holiday but many people on many school holiday days.

[talksthetalk]

So I get the Friday work from home/4 day week, but surely that would mean less traffic on a Friday night?
Which there isn't.
I guess the Friday night crawl is added to by the students taking their washing home, baby boomers driving to the holiday cottage in the lakes, dads picking the kids up from the ex-wife, weekend onthelash city breakers etc. I also wonder, like a previous post if the extra Friday crashes make the traffic worse.