Close this Advertisement

NSC Predicts 173 Independence Day Period Traffic Deaths

That would be a low total in historical terms. The council's predictions have been very accurate in past years.

  • Jun 29, 2012

The National Safety Council estimates 173 traffic deaths and 17,300 non-fatal medically consulted injuries will occur during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday period, which NSC defines as 6 p.m. July 3 to 11:59 p.m. July 4. The fatality total, if accurate, would match the lowest total for an Independence Day holiday period during the past 16 years -– there were 173 such deaths in 2001, according to a chart in the estimate paper prepared by NSC's Statistics Department.

By comparison, since 1994, Independence Day period traffic deaths have ranged from that low of 173 in 2001 to a high of 683 in 2000. Only twice, in 2005 and 2006, were the actual deaths obtained from Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data outside a 90 percent confidence interval of NSC's estimate.

NSC offers the following tips for staying safe while driving. Traffic increases during the summer months, so drivers should be especially alert.

  • Refrain from using your cell phone while driving.
  • Put your cell phone on silent or in the glove box to avoid temptation.
  • Safely pull over and put the vehicle in park to take or make a call.
  • Always wear a seat belt -– every trip, every time.
  • Make sure every passenger is wearing his or her seat belt before you begin your drive.
  • Children should sit in the back and use the proper child safety seat or booster seat.
  • Never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, especially during hot weather.
  • If you plan to drink, designate a non-drinking driver -- NHTSA has launched its Fourth of July Impaired Driving Prevention Campaign.
  • If there is a young driver in your family, strictly enforce a zero tolerance policy with alcohol -- all states have a 21-year-old drinking age law
  • Never get in the car with an intoxicated driver.
  • Avoid aggressive driving by keeping your emotions in check and focusing on your own driving.
  • Don't tailgate or flash your lights at another driver.

Comments

Add your Comment

Your Name:(optional)
Your Email:(optional)
Your Location:(optional)
Comment:
Please type the letters/numbers you see above

Follow Us

Upcoming Webinars

6/19: Building a Fall Protection Plan and a Safer Workplace

This webinar will help companies write a detailed, site-specific fall protection plan that addresses their fall protection goals.

7/10: Combustible Dust: From Sparks to Fires to Explosions Identifying Precursors to Catastrophic Events

This webinar will provide valuable information on how partnering with the nation’s fire service assists facility owners, managers, and OHS professionals in identifying combustible dust hazards, preventing incidents, and reducing liability.

7/18: The United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, (GHS), will it revolutionize workplace safety?

We invite you to join us as we identify some of the pitfalls of GHS and some real solutions that can be implemented in your workplace today to simplify your chemical information and training program and enable your employees to work more safely with hazardous materials.

7/25: SPCC Regulations: What Do They Look Like Now?

This webinar will address the history and current status of EPA's Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule, which is intended to prevent the discharge of oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.

9/19: Shrinking Exposure Thresholds: Stay Ahead of the Game

The truth is that sensor technology is evolving rapidly and Dräger will show you how to trust this technology to stay ahead of the game.

Spotlight

For June 2013, OH&S puts the spotlight on: