Shopping for dinner and attending afternoon appointments have made 3pm the worst time on the road for accidents.

It is when travelling for work, school pick-ups and household responsibilities put drivers on the road at the same time and often feeling stressed, according to Youi.

The afternoon dash means drivers are under time pressure and more likely to speed, change lanes frequently, run amber lights and make impulsive decisions, says the insurer, which surveyed 2334 people this month after its data found 3pm was the most frequent time for motor accidents.

The insurer has worked with Road Sense Australia to develop the 3pm Playbook, featuring safety tips and advice.

Although the roads are congested in the afternoon, the mental load of “trying to be everywhere at once” also contributes to driver stress.

More than half the survey respondents said 3pm was the most stressful time for driving, and in the past year nearly a quarter had experienced a road incident at that time.

The fewest accidents were between midnight and 5am.