December 15, the Day Most Cali Drivers Crash

When they don't go after you, the customer, in an aggressive manner to promote this or that product, insurance companies like to conduct all types of surveys and studies, related to just about everything which involves a car and/or its driver. Useful or not, these studies often fail to shed some light on the matter under investigation, mostly because the insurance companies are unable to get to the bottom of the subject and show the big “why.”

One such study is the one released by insurance company Allstate. By reviewing its California auto insurance claims over the past four years, the insurer found that on December 15, accident claims in the state jump 23 percent compared to the daily average during the rest of the year.

Of course, the insurer has no idea why. Can it be the weather? The spirit of Christmas? The exuberance we all feel when we receive a Christmas bonus? Or the rage felt when there is no Christmas bonus?

"This spike in crashes could be related to weather, holiday shopping, travel or other distractions," said Robert Feldman, Allstate agency owner in metro Los Angeles. "What's important for drivers is that we stay focused while at the wheel whether on the highway or in the driveway—on December 15 and every day of the year."

In fact, the month of December is probably the most dangerous in the year, with two of its days being in the top 5 worst days to drive – December 18 is the second. The top is completed by February 14, October 13 and September 5.