NSC Predicts 58,000 Holiday Period Crash Casualties
The July 4 holiday period is one of the busiest travel times of the summer. With a transit strike snarling roads in the Bay Area, it may be one of the most crowded in that area.
The National Safety Council released its estimates that 540 deaths and an additional 57,800 medically consulted injuries from traffic crashes will occur during the July 4 holiday period, which begins at 6 p.m. on July 3 and ends at 11:59 p.m. July 7. NSC estimates 196 lives may be saved during the holiday period by buckling up.
The council's recommendations for drivers during the holiday weekend are:
- Refrain from using cell phones 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 safety belt – every trip, every time
- Make sure every passenger is wearing his or her safety belt before you begin your drive
- Have children 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
NSC also urged Americans to watch a public fireworks display conducted by professionals rather than setting off their own fireworks. If fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to use them, it recommends:
- Not allowing young children to handle fireworks and permitting older children to use fireworks only under close adult supervision
- Lighting fireworks one at a time, in a clear outdoor area away from onlookers, houses. and flammable materials
- Not aiming fireworks at another individual and never placing any part of your body over a firework
- Keeping a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire
- Not trying to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks