It can be said that the year of 2011 is merciful to superstitious people, who pay special attention to the 13th days, because we have only one “Black Friday” this year. However, looking through few closest years we see that in 2012 and in 2015 we will have to survive even three “Black Fridays” in each of the years. In general, years having three “Black Fridays”, are not so frequent – the next year having three “Black Fridays” will be only 2026. Statistically more frequent are years with two “Black Fridays”, and a year having no “Black Fridays” is impossible.
The largest possible interval between two “Black Fridays” is 14 months. And we will have such an interval between July of 2012 and September of 2013. "Black Friday" is inevitable in the months beginning on Sunday - it is simple calendar arithmetic.
Each of us has his own view of this allegedly mystical date. There are people who even consider it a successful day, when everything turns out well. Some people remember it only when the "Black Friday" has already expired. However, commonly "Black Fridays" are associated with different failures and misfortunes. People try not to plan important things on this date and not to start a new work.
Analysing the MIB statistics regarding the number of accidents with light vehicles on average by days of the week, then it is as follows: Mondays - 86, Tuesdays and Wednesdays - 85, Thursdays – 91, Friday – 98, Saturdays - 67, and Sundays – 48. So there were 80 traffic accidents on average per each day of the week, so that we can say that the biggest number of accidents really occurs on Fridays.
To find out whether the “Black Friday” in some way really affects the number of traffic accidents, we looked through the statistics of the last three years regarding traffic accidents that occurred on the 13th day of each month. “Black Friday” was on June 13, 2008, February 13, March 13 and November 13, 2009, and August 13, 2010.
It turned out that the average number of traffic accidents that had occurred on the 13th day was even lower – 76. Statistics by the week days is as follows: on Mondays the 13th - 75 traffic accidents, Tuesdays – 81, Wednesdays – 82, Thursdays – 99, Fridays – 87, Saturdays – 78, and on Sundays – 47 traffic accidents.
In view of these figures, we must conclude that more accidents on the roads occur not on "Black Fridays", but on Thursdays, which fall on the 13th day. And it seems that the myth of the "Black Fridays" even has forced the drivers to show extra caution when driving.
Taking into account this statistics of the Traffic Safety Directorate, it should be noted that the chance to get involved in a traffic accident on a 13th day, even if it is a “Black Friday”, is lesser than on any other quite ordinary day.
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