If you’re heading out of town this Memorial weekend, you might encounter treacherous driving situations and make contact with reckless drivers. The National Safety Council releases statistics every year that point toward the danger of Memorial Day weekend. Keep reading to learn more.
Why Is Memorial Day So Dangerous?
Memorial Day weekend is dangerous for a number of reasons. To start, most people travel by car which means there are more people on the road than normal. This can clog small roads and add to traffic on highways. When there are more cars, there are higher chances of an accident.
Additionally, holiday weekends are about having fun. While there’s nothing wrong with fun, drinking and driving or boating is dangerous and can have devastating consequences. While you may not be the one drinking, the roads are still risky because of people who do.
Tips
Following are tips for travel this Memorial Day:
- Plan ahead! Map out your route and take less dangerous routes if you are concerned about traffic. It’s also important to check the weather and news ahead of time to find out about any accidents.
- Don’t drive distracted! Distracted driving is just as deadly as drunk driving and is even more preventable. If you need a GPS use a touchless device and have your passengers assist with navigation when needed.
- Resist the urge to speed. Speeding increases when people have time off and are in a hurry to relax. Take it slow and mind your road manners
- Wear your seatbelt. Seatbelts are important safety devices that can save your life in an accident.
Memorial Day is a time to relax, but it’s important to stay vigilant. You can’t control other drivers on the road and while you may follow all of our safety tips, accidents can happen through no fault of your own. It’s important to pace yourself and think of safety first.