Holiday Travel Increases Likelihood of Road Collisions

The Fourth of July is a major cause for celebration in the United States of America. Unfortunately, festive holidays can also turn into days of tragedy for some. The increase in traffic combined with hurried, distracted drivers can often create disastrous results. Adding alcohol into the mix, which is a common feature of holiday celebrations, can cause these situations to turn deadly.

This recent July 4th weekend saw hundreds of accidents on the roads, resulting in dozens of fatalities. Speed and alcohol were contributing factors in a majority of accidents, and the lack of seatbelts was present in many of the fatalities.

Massachusetts saw eight dead over the weekend in multiple single-car incidents and one four-car collision. In one single-car accident, three out of four occupants of the vehicle perished. None of the riders were wearing seat belts. In Connecticut, the nation’s third smallest state, there were over 160 accidents over the holiday weekend. Police were out in full force attempting to stop unsafe driving before any catastrophic results, and police there issued over 2,300 speeding tickets, more than 350 tickets for not wearing seat belts, and made 46 DUI arrests. Six people died on New Jersey roadways during the weekend, and one person died on the open roads of Kansas. In Los Angeles, police made nearly 100 DUI arrests in the first twelve hours of the public holiday. These scenes were repeated across the country in nearly every jurisdiction.

Even when not compounded by a national holiday, summertime driving leads to crowded and dangerous conditions. Higher temperatures lead to increased probability of tire failures and other mechanical breakdowns. Popular vacation spots lead to crowded streets and highways, especially in the evening, when everyone is tired and trying to get home at once. The addition of alcohol to summertime celebrating always increases dangers on the road.

Please be alert to the dangers posed and stay safe, whether you are vacationing yourself or merely encountering increased traffic congestion and unsafe driving on your daily commute. While not all factors which contribute to accidents are within your control, you can greatly increase your personal safety with alert and defensive driving.

The tragedy of a holiday celebration cut short by a serious accident is keenly felt by victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious automobile accident, consult an experienced personal injury attorney. You may also contact me for immediate aid and support.