Waze reveals the best and worst times to leave Boston for July 4 weekend
If you’re planning to hit the road out of Boston for the Fourth of July, bear in mind there are certain times that will work to your advantage and others times that could cause you a headache.
Waze, a GPS app owned by Google, recently analyzed data on Boston travel patterns to determine the best and worst days and times to travel during the holiday weekend. The company looks at the highest and lowest points of road congestion and traffic alerts to determine the fastest and safest times to travel, drawing from more than 700,000 users in the area.
Here are the best and the worst times to drive this weekend.
Best:
Saturday morning. While it might mean starting the weekend a day late, Waze anticipates Saturday will be the “ideal day to hit the road.’’ The company recommends travelling either before 11 a.m. or after 1 p.m.
Worst:
Friday during the day. While it may be tempting to get a jump start on the long weekend, Waze notes that there’s usually a 22 percent spike in traffic accident alerts and a 12 percent increase in traffic jam alerts between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday. Congestion actually drops off a bit around 5 p.m.
“Our data showed an increase last year in traffic jam and accident alerts so it’s important to stay alert and keep your eyes on the road,’’ said Waze spokesperson Meghan Kelleher in a statement.
Kelleher points out that Waze can send family and friends alerts about travelers’ progress and estimated arrival times.
Meanwhile, AAA reports 43 million Americans nationwide will be traveling this weekend, a record number. Low gas prices are one of the main reasons so many drivers are expected to hit the road.
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