“Memorial Day should mark the start of summer – not the start of another deadly driving season.”
That’s the message from Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council (NSC), in advance of Memorial Day weekend.
Hersman continued: “Paying attention, slowing down and being courteous can ensure you and your fellow travelers make it to picnics, beaches and BBQs rather than emergency rooms.”
The message comes as the NSC issues its highest estimate for road fatalities since 2012, predicting that 409 people could lose their lives on the roads over the Memorial Day holiday period.
The estimated number of fatalities is 12% higher than the average number of deaths (364) that occurred during the previous six Memorial Day holiday periods (2010-2015). Fatality data for 2016 is not final. The NSC also estimates that 47,000 people may be seriously injured (those who require medical attention) on the roads during the three-day holiday period, which begins at 6 p.m. ET Friday, May 26 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET Monday, May 29.
The Memorial Day estimates are in line with a nationwide upward trend in vehicle deaths. Preliminary NSC estimates indicate traffic deaths increased 6% in 2016, and 14% since 2014 – the steepest two-year jump since 1964.
Tips to ensure a safer Memorial Day holiday weekend include:
- Wear a seat belt on every trip. About 159 lives may be saved during the holiday because people will buckle up.
- Make sure children are restrained in safety seats that are appropriate for their height, age and weight.
- Designate an alcohol and drug-free driver or arrange alternate transportation. Impairment begins with the first drink.
- Get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks to avoid fatigue.
- Never use a cell phone behind the wheel, even hands-free.
- Do not allow teens to drive with their friends. A single young passenger can increase a teen driver’s fatal crash risk 44%, according to Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.
