During midsummer, significantly more people go out on our roads than a normal weekend, which easily leads to long queues and stress.
Due to increased alcohol consumption, there are also more people driving drunk than normal.
This is a recipe for an increased risk of accidents, and for the past 25 years, an average of six people per year have died in midsummer traffic. That’s more than twice as many as an average weekend, and 30 percent more than the average for the month of June.
This shows an analysis based on statistics from the Swedish Transport Agency carried out by Dina Försäkringar.
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Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day are most dangerous
The big travel day during the Midsummer weekend is Thursday, and it is also when, on average, the most accidents occur.
However, the most dangerous days during the Midsummer weekend in terms of deaths are Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day, when an average of two people per day have died in traffic.
Victor Öberginsurance expert at Dina Försäkringar advises that early Thursday and Sunday are the best times to be out on the road during the midsummer weekend.
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Avoid small roads in midsummer
Compared to a normal weekend, many roads are more prone to traffic jams and accidents than usual, and most accidents during the Midsummer weekend occur on European roads.
At the same time, these roads are still relatively safer, as the accidents mostly involve kitchen coats.
If you want to avoid queues, it can be tempting to go to the Swedish small roads instead, but you should then be aware that this is also where the most serious accidents occur.
– Choose 2+1 roads and motorways as far as possible. Sometimes it can be worth taking a detour of a few extra miles, because these roads are not only safer but also often faster, says Victor Öberg
He also advises that minor roads easily become overcrowded during midsummer, especially those leading out to the coast. This is because the small roads are not designed for a lot of traffic.
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Roads with increased accident risk in midsummer
E4 Hudiksvall–Sundsvall
E10 The entire route
E12 The entire route
E14 The entire route
E16 Gävle–Falun–Malung
E20 Gothenburg–Laxå
E22 Kalmar–Norrköping
E45 Gothenburg–Östersund
26 Halmstad–Jönköping (Nissastigen) and Mariestad–Mora
50 Örebro–Borlänge
70 Enköping–Borlänge
Roads with an increased risk of queues in midsummer
E4–E20 Sollentuna–Södertälje
E4 Gävle – Tönnebro
E6 Gothenburg–Strömstad
E6 Gothenburg–Kungsbacka
E18 Stockholm–Barkarby, Stockholm–Norrtälje
E22 Norrköping–Kalmar
E22 in Blekinge
26 Jönköping–Halmstad
50 Örebro–Ludvika
70 Enköping–Siljanbygden
73 Stockholm–Nynäshamn
76 Norrtälje–Gävle
136 Färjestaden–Borgholm
137 Kalmar–Färjestaden (Öland Bridge)
222 Stockholm–Värmdö
276 Åkersberga–Norrtälje