BOSTON — Valentine’s weekend is bringing a welcome warm-up across Massachusetts, and in Boston, that shift in temperature could quietly change conditions on the road.
After weeks of winter driving — snowbanks, salt-covered pavement, cautious braking — the first mild stretch of February often creates a false sense of ease. Roads look clearer. Traffic seems lighter. Drivers begin accelerating a little faster and following a little closer.
This weekend, volume increases.
Couples head into the city for dinner in the North End. Traffic thickens along I-93 and the Mass Pike. Parking garages near Faneuil Hall fill early. Vehicles circle around Back Bay and the Seaport as evening reservations approach.
Warmer air also brings more pedestrians out, especially near Boston Common and along Hanover Street, creating more unpredictable crossings in areas that felt quieter during colder weeks.
It’s not the snow that creates risk during a weekend like this.
It’s the comfort.
When conditions appear dry and manageable, reaction times can soften. Drivers assume visibility is better than it is. They assume other vehicles will move predictably. They assume winter caution isn’t as necessary.
Add Valentine’s anticipation — tight schedules, distractions, unfamiliar parking — and the margin for error narrows.
The combination of warmer weather and increased travel can quietly elevate crash risk across Boston roadways Saturday and Sunday evening.
If you’re heading into the city this weekend, stay alert.
Because sometimes the most dangerous winter driving happens when it doesn’t look like winter anymore.
