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News : Labor Day: One of The Deadliest Days to Drive
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LABOR DAY: ONE OF THE DEADLIEST DAYS TO DRIVE
When people think of Labor Day they think of rest and relaxation, grilling out and having one last party before the summer comes to a close. However, most would not consider one of the largest party days of the year to be one of the deadliest days to drive…but it is! An article posted by insurance.com states: "According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Sunday before Labor Day is the 8th deadliest day to drive and Labor Day is the 9th deadliest day to drive. Surprised to see the Sunday before Labor Day as one of the top 10 deadliest days to drive? You shouldn’t be. In fact the NHTSA found in their 'Trend & Pattern Analysis of Highway Crash Fatality By Month & Day Technical Report,' that a number of outlier days around the holidays are associated with higher fatality rates than the actually holiday itself. Why you might ask? Well, many holiday celebrations start on the eve or weekend of the holiday. And because many people do not have to work the following day, these festivities typically include alcoholic beverages and late night hours. The Labor Day weekend* is no exception. According to the NHTSA’s 'Traffic Safety Facts 2005 Report,' 506 people were killed in automobile accidents during the 2005 Labor Day weekend, 51 percent of those deaths were alcohol related. Of the 51 percent, nine percent of the drivers had a blood alcohol content level of between .01 - .07 and 39 percent had a blood alcohol content level of .08+. Alternative Labor Day transportation resources If you plan to drink or host a party during the Labor Day weekend, plan to have some alternative transportation resources you or your guests can take advantage of or you can offer your guests. One of these resources is AAA’s Tipsy Tow program. This program is offered to all residents of participating AAA clubs free of charge. Under this program anyone (members and non-members) that have had too much to drink can call AAA and get a free ride home for up to two people within a 15 mile radius. As part of the program, AAA will also tow your car home for free. To find out if this program is being offered in your area, contact your local AAA office. Another good transportation resource is your local cab service. While this service is not free, it is one of the safest ways to get home if you have been drinking. If you’re hosting a party, consider having the numbers of local cab companies available for guests who have had too much to drink. Planning ahead can not only help keep your loved ones safe, it can also help save lives! Labor Day Weekend Trips Alcohol consumption is not the only reason for fatalities during the Labor Day weekend. According to the Drive for Life’s, '101 deadliest days on the road' report, major contributors to summer crashes are failure to wear safety belts or improper use of child safety seats, drinking and driving, car maintenance failures, speed, distractions and fatigue. During the long Labor Day weekend, families tend to drive to their weekend destination during the night while their children are sleeping, or in the evening after a full day of exhausting activities. Think that driving tired is not that big of a deal? Think again. The Drive for Life report noted that 1.35 million drivers attributed to automobile accidents in the summer due to drowsiness. The report also found that during the summer months, families with children were six times more likely to drive home from a day long trip while fatigued than people without children. Of those families likely to drive home, 57 percent said they are likely to drive when fatigued in order to get home from a weekend getaway while 59 percent said they are likely to drive fatigued to get to a certain destination in one night. If you’re planning to travel this Labor Day weekend, make sure to get plenty of rest, pack snacks, books and car safe activities for your children, don’t rush to your destination, don’t drink and drive, take your car in for a maintenance check, and remember to have your accident kit and auto insurance card on hand. While you can’t prevent an accident from happening, you can be prepared in the event that one does occur." *(The NHTSA defines Labor Day weekend as starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and ending at 5:59 a.m. Tuesday.) |
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