NSC Asks Drivers to Take Control of Their Safety This Thanksgiving Holiday
The Council estimates as many as 437 people may be killed
Echoing statements from the FAA, the NSC is asking drivers to be vigilant about safety while traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday period, according to a news release. The Council says as many as 437 people may be killed according to their estimates, and 50,300 may be seriously injured in car crashes between 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23 and 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 27.
That number is 12 percent higher than the average number of fatalities (391) that have occurred during the last six Thanksgiving holiday periods.
“During the holidays, many drivers are more concerned about getting to their destinations quickly than safely,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “But overlooking common roadway risks can have deadly consequences. Make sure you pay attention and drive defensively so everyone can spend time with friends and family rather than at a hospital.”
Motor vehicle deaths were 9 percent higher through the first six months of the year compared to 2015, and 18 percent higher compared to 2014.
The NSC asks that drivers: Designate an alcohol free driver, get plenty of sleep, don’t use a cell phone while driving, and don’t allow teens to drive with their friends or younger siblings.