Cannot believe it. The summer is over. We are in the middle of the fall. The Holidays are upon us. We need to be more vigilant during the Holiday Season. There are more cars on the road. The weather changes for the worse this time of year. The possibility of being involved in a motor vehicle accident rises during the Holiday Season. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more people die in alcohol related accidents than any other time of the year. The amount is two to three times higher. Further, forty percent of accidents during this time period, involve a driver who is impaired by alcohol. See the below graph:
There are ways to try to prevent automobile accidents during the Holidays. The first thing you can do is to slow down. Decreasing your speed can help prevent accidents or the severity of the accident. Make sure you fasten your seat belt, even for a short trip. Avoid driving after you have been drinking alcohol.
Further, according to Injury Facts put out by the National Safety Council, in 2013, 343 people died on New Year’s Day, 360 on Thanksgiving Day and 88 on Christmas Day from motor vehicle related accidents. 31% of these deaths were alcohol related. In six years, the percentage of alcohol related deaths involving an automobile have only decreased by nine percent. The National Safety Council suggests the usage of a designated driver, usage of seat belts, not to use cell phones while driving, proper vehicle maintenance and being prepared for bad weather as ways to prevent motor vehicle related injuries.
Now while the Winter Holidays are not the only holiday time to be vigilant, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve make up three of the top six Holidays where deaths are the highest. The below graph provides the average traffic related deaths for the to six holiday periods from 2009 to 2013. Almost thirty-three percent of the traffic deaths during the Winter Holidays are alcohol related. With all of these statistics, the same pattern is repeating itself. Drinking and driving are a bad combination. Hopefully, this blog and the suggested ways to avoid automobile accidents and deaths are helpful. Happy Holidays!
Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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