TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) - The most dangerous day to drive this holiday season might surprise you.  In the past, researchers say Wednesday dominated statistics as the day when most people traveled and the majority of the accidents during the Thanksgiving holidays took place.  However, in recent years, those numbers have significantly spread out over Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Researchers believe more children have the entire week off of school, and families are leaving earlier to celebrate the holidays than they did in the past.  In 2010, the day with the most accidents was actually Tuesday during rush hour.  Researchers with the Center for Advanced Public Safety, or CAPS at the University of Alabama, say those findings were likely impacted by rainy weather that hit many parts of Alabama on Tuesday.  However, a shocking majority of those accidents were not severe.  Researchers have found that the majority of fatal accidents actually happened very late at night or early in the morning.

"It's very surprising considering the fact that there are so few cars on the road at these hours that there would be this many fatalities,"explains CAPS Director Allen Parrish.  Parrish can also isolate the causes of those crashes using the eCrash system, a computer program that contains years of driving statistics across the entire state.  He has found that many of these late night fatalities are a direct result of reckless operation, speeding, and DUIs. 

Statistically speaking, the safest day to drive may also surprise you.  Researchers have found that Thanksgiving morning is overwhelmingly the safest time to be on the road.  In 2010, between the hours of 9:00 and 10:00 am, there was only one accident in the entire state, something Parrish calls, "unheard of."