On alleged unlucky day: Insurers reassure for Friday the 13th - Friday the 13th defies superstition with fewer accidents than normal Fridays
Friday the 13th, often considered an unlucky day, may actually be safer than expected. German insurers and traffic authorities report fewer accidents and claims on these days compared to regular Fridays. The findings challenge long-held superstitions about the date's dangers. Over the past 20 years, insurer R+V recorded an average of 194 fewer incidents on Friday the 13th than on other Fridays. This trend continued in 2024, with Barmenia Gothaer receiving fewer claims on both Friday the 13ths than the usual Friday average. Experts suggest people may drive more carefully or take extra precautions due to superstition. In Baden-Württemberg, the Statistical State Office found that normal Fridays saw an average of 152 traffic accidents between 2012 and 2024. However, no national data for 2023 insurance cases on regular Fridays is available. The German Automobile Association (ADAC) also confirmed that the risk of accidents on Friday the 13th is no higher than on any other day of the year. Despite widespread beliefs about bad luck, statistics show no increase in crashes or mishaps. Instead, the numbers indicate a slight drop in incidents, possibly due to heightened caution among drivers and the public. The data contradicts the idea that Friday the 13th is riskier than other days. Insurers and traffic authorities found fewer accidents and claims on these dates. While superstition may lead some to avoid travel, the statistics suggest the day is no more dangerous—and may even be safer—than an ordinary Friday.
