As many as 409 Americans will be killed on the road during the long Independence Day holiday, with another 49,500 injured, forecasts the National Safety Council.
The most people will travel this Independence Day since 2007. According to AAA, 41.9 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home to celebrate Independence Day. – the highest figure since 2007, when 42.3 million people traveled.
If the safety group’s prediction proves accurate, that would be the highest tally for a Fourth of July holiday since 2008.
The National Safety Council suggested a variety of ways motorists can avoid becoming part of the holiday statistics:
- Buckle up. Seatbelts are expected to save 155 lives during the three-day holiday, and another 99 Americans would be saved if they also buckled up, the NSC estimated;
- And place children in appropriate safety seats, something that is credited with saving 100s of young lives a year.
- Reduce your speed. More speeding-related fatalities occur during summer months;
- Avoid distracted driving behavior, like using a cellphone or texting while behind the wheel;
- And, of course, don’t drink and drive. Driving under the influence is the single largest cause of motor vehicle fatalities.
For more on this subject, please take a look at this article:
July 4 Weekend May Be Deadliest in Years for Drivers by PAUL A. EISENSTEIN
