Summer brings long sunny days, time at the pool, baseball games, enjoying barbecues, and more. But along with all of the fun times, we get a number of saddening statistics. Some of the most dangerous and deadly days to drive occur in the summer months.
The time between Memorial Day and Labor Day have been titled the 100 most dangerous days to drive, where Americans will drive over 1 trillion miles. During this time last year, nearly one person a day died in Utah as a result of a car accident.
Though accidents happen year round, we can all be safer and more aware while driving during the summer to help lower these statistics and keep our summer season fun, not fatal.
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The Most Dangerous Days
Part of the reason why summertime is such a dangerous driving season is because of the number of people on the road. With more people driving and more traffic on highways, there is a higher risk of accident.
The increased consumption of alcohol is also a factor. Driving drunk, buzzed, or with any level of intoxication is incredibly dangerous (not to mention illegal) and can put you and others in danger. If you plan on having alcohol at your summer festivities, please make sure your guests have a designated driver. These two factors–people on the road and higher alcohol intake–explain why July 4th is one of the deadliest days to be driving, with an average of 144 car-related fatalities happening that day alone.
July 2nd and 3rd are also days that have traditionally high fatalities. Around major holidays, people are rushing to visit friends and family and are often staying up late. Driving when drowsy or driving aggressively are both forms of distracted driving which severely increase accidents and fatalities. Don’t add to these statistics–drive safely this summer.
Stay Calm and Stay Safe
We’ve already outlined some ways to drive safely, some of which include not driving distracted, drunk, or drowsy. Always be sure to wear your seat belt and drive the speed limit. Also, be sure to drive calmly. Rushing to and from activities can leave you feeling frustrated and keep you from paying attention to what’s happening around you. By budgeting some extra minutes into your commute, you can avoid feeling rushed while driving, keeping you calmer.
Summertime also brings more construction, which requires you to drive extra carefully, and reduce your speed. Do not ignore construction alerts and road signs; construction changes the roads you are familiar with and driving on “autopilot” can prove to be very dangerous.
Accidents Happen
Even if you are driving safely, others may not be. Car accidents are incredibly scary and stressful, especially if you have been severely injured in the accident. Navigating the claims process and insurance companies can be difficult to handle after an accident, and we want to extend a helping hand. It’s not only our job but our duty to provide the help you need to get back on your feet as soon as possible. If you would like to come in for a free consultation, or get your questions answered, be sure to call us at (801) 506.0800. Image courtesy of Pixabay