As Labor Day approaches, people tend to make plans to celebrate what is known as the end of summer. While some people hit the road for a weekend excursion, others stay close to home and host or attend a Labor Day party. In either event, driving safety is often the last thing on motorists’ minds, but it should be at the forefront during a weekend that is notorious for car accidents.
Whether it is due to heavier holiday traffic or drunk driving following holiday parties, car crashes are unfortunately a given during the long Labor Day weekend. According to a fact sheet by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 424 fatal crashes nationwide on Labor Day weekend in 2013. About half of these deadly motor vehicle accidents involved drivers who had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of over .01 percent, and 38 percent of these fatal collisions involved drunk drivers who had a BAC of over .08 percent. Shockingly, over a fourth of these deadly wrecks involved drivers with a BAC of over .15 percent.
These statistics aren’t being shared with you to ruin your holiday festivities but merely as a way to remind all motorists of roadway safety. Because Labor Day is a time to relax and have fun, it is entirely possible to do this and enjoy the long weekend in a safe way. Here’s how:
- Don’t drink and drive. Instead, designate a sober driver.
- Plan on spending the night after a Labor Day party.
- Take a taxi cab home from a party or plan alternative transportation if alcohol is involved.
- Always buckle up. It is a known fact that seatbelts save lives.
- Avoid distractions at the wheel such as texting and talking on cell phone and be aware that even hands-free cell phone use while driving can kill.
- Leave plenty of time to get to your destination, and review the directions or set your navigation system before starting the car.
We hope this blog has served as a reminder to plan ahead in regards to transportation and roadway safety for Labor Day 2015. Please share this with your friends and family via Facebook so that you can help save lives.
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