The National
Safety Council has released traffic fatality estimates for the
upcoming Labor Day weekend. The Council estimates 400 traffic fatalities will
occur over the holiday weekend and another 38,800 medically consulted injuries
will be sustained from motor vehicle collisions. For the past six years, the
Labor Day weekend has averaged 14.6 percent more traffic fatalities than
similar non-holiday periods.
The Council
also estimates 142 people may survive the holiday weekend because they will
have worn safety belts, while another 102 lives would have been saved if all
had worn safety belts. The Council also suggests:
- If you are drinking, do not
drive
- If you plan to drink, designate
a non-drinking driver or plan for alternative transportation
- Young drivers are at particular
risk to be involved in alcohol-related crashes (If there is a young driver
in your family, strictly enforce a zero tolerance policy with alcohol –
all states have a minimum drinking age of 21)
- Your best defense against a
drunk driver is wearing your safety belt, so buckle up
There are a
number of other dangers to Labor Day weekend drivers besides impaired driving.
Follow these additional tips to stay safe:
- Establish and enforce a
driver’s distraction-free zone, especially in cars equipped with
electronic devices including cell phones, video games and global
positioning systems
- Make sure all passengers are
buckled up and children are in age-appropriate safety seats
- Allow plenty of travel time to
avoid frustration and diminish the impulse to speed
- Drive defensively and exercise
caution, especially during inclement weather
The National
Safety Council (nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths
at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership,
research, education and advocacy.
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