Today’s post comes from fellow ignition interlock provider, LifeSafer.
Roads are busy in the summer for quite a few reasons. With school out, families spend their vacation time crowded in the car for annual road trips. Teens, armed with a brand new drivers license, are out driving with friends, and holidays like the 4th of July make for packed highways as people head out to local events.
Although the summer season is a great time to drive because of clear skies and great road conditions, it’s also one of the deadliest times to be on the highway and one of the highest risk periods for motorists to be involved in alcohol-related crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shared statistics that show there was an average of 36 fatalities involving alcohol per day between 2001 and 2005. During the summer driving season of that same time frame, the NHTSA recorded 144 alcohol-related fatalities on the 4th of July alone.
Following the 4th of July, Labor Day weekend ranks high as one of the deadly days to drive. The NHTSA recorded 147 people killed on the Labor Day weekend in 2010 because of drunk driving.
Summer may be a dangerous time to drive for all motorists, but the risk increases even more for teens as Memorial Day kicked off a period of time known as the ‘100 Deadly Days to Drive‘ for teen drivers.
Because the summer is such a dangerous time to drive, there are a few safe summer driving tips you can follow to ensure your safe travel:
- Never drink and drive – If you plan to drink, stay home or hand your car keys over to a sober driver.
- Maintain your vehicle – Check your tire pressure, oil pressure, and any wear and tear before heading out for a road trip.
- Use your seat belts – Seat belts can prevent injury in the event of a crash.
- Don’t drive when drowsy – Drowsy driving is dangerous because fatigue can impair your coordination and concentration, which can cause crashes in the same way drinking and driving can.
The 4th of July is right around the corner, so be on alert and use caution when driving during the deadly days of summer.