Most people think roads are most dangerous during rush hour. But research says the greatest danger may be when roads seem empty. Many Britons will drive this Bank Holiday weekend.

Confused.com found the most hazardous hour to drive in the UK. They used traffic and collision data to make an interactive Safety Index. This index shows the chance of an accident relative to the number of vehicles on the road. It helps motorists plan safer journeys.

Rhydian Jones explains why empty roads can be perilous. He identifies the riskiest and safest times to drive and offers guidance on using Confused.com's Safety Index tool.

Knowing when collision risk peaks can help you avoid dangerous times to drive.

Heavy traffic is predicted this weekend.

Fewer vehicles should mean fewer crashes. But experts say empty roads can encourage reckless driving. Many motorists break speed limits and speed when traffic is lighter.

Road safety depends on more than just the number of cars. It depends on conditions through the day. The late afternoon has many collisions because roads are busy. But late-night and early-morning hours are proportionately the most dangerous.

Journeys are longer, traffic is heavier, and weather is tougher. Many drivers feel nervous, especially at night or in unfamiliar areas. Nearly a third admit to speeding when roads seem quiet.

The analysis found the hours with the highest collision risk relative to traffic volume are late-night and early-morning hours.

The greatest danger is not when roads are busiest, but when drivers are most tired and conditions are less forgiving.

The safest times to drive are generally in the early morning.

Weekdays between 5am and 7am have the lowest risk. Wednesday 5am to 6am is the safest hour of the week.

On weekends, the safest time is 9am to 10am. Experts believe these times are safer because traffic is more predictable and speeds are lower.

Over half of drivers have witnessed or experienced a crash.

Road accidents are a common experience for UK motorists.

Accidents can have a lasting effect on confidence and driving behaviour.

Many drivers feel uneasy in certain conditions.

The UK areas with the most collisions are often busy.

The busiest crash period is 5pm to 6pm, with school pick-ups and the evening commute.

During this hour, some councils have the highest number of reported collisions.

There were 100,927 injury collisions recorded by police over the last year.

Several factors make this the most hazardous hour of the week.

Even a small mistake can have serious consequences.

Confused.com has an interactive Safety Index tool to help motorists gain a clearer picture of road risks.

The tool enables drivers to pinpoint lower-risk windows and make better-informed choices about when to set off.

For anyone considering a bank holiday road trip or a late-night drive home, quiet roads don't necessarily mean safer roads.