Be Safe Out There!
This year, as with preceding years, the days between Memorial Day (Monday, May 26) and Labor Day (Monday, September 1) are expected to be the most dangerous and deadliest days for driving.
With people taking vacations or engaging in Summertime activities, more people are on the roads, including young drivers who may lack experience.
The CDC warns us that drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are 3x more likely to be involved in fatal car crashes during this time1, and the NFRS concurs2, revealing that these young drivers are 20% more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents during this time.
This is speculated to be due to a number of risk factors including general inexperience driving, underage drinking, not taking proper safety precautions such as wearing seatbelts, speeding or driving unsafely, and distracted driving.
This last behavior, of course, is not just a “teen thing”: with the advent of handheld cellular devices, we’ve all experienced those “pings” when we receive phone calls, texts, or messages….and we’re often guilty of looking to see who’s contacting us. If we receive a text, we may even take a few moments, brief as they seem, to respond. Distraction coupled with inexperience can be fatal. Even a few seconds of distraction can be deadly.
The FCC warns us that 8% of fatal crashes, 12% of injury crashes, and 11% of all police-reported motor vehicle crashes resulted from distracted driving. And, while hands-free devices are safer options, distractions of any kind can be detrimental. With more than 3,300 people being killed and nearly 290,000 people being injured in these situations, this is definitely not something to be taken lightly3.
Behaviors such as eating or attempting to perform other tasks while driving can also end up in disaster. With more people on the roads over the Summer, the odds are higher that you could end up being involved in an accident, so, please, if you’re planning to be on the road this Summer, please be mindful of not only your own responsible behaviors, but also be on the lookout for any other drivers who might be engaging in unsafe behaviors. And if you’re unsure of the condition or “roadworthiness” of your vehicle, please stop by, and we’re happy to check it over and contribute to your safety!
