Itasca, IL – Nearly 19,000 people have died in traffic crashes across the United States from January to June, and 2.2 million were seriously injured – putting the United States on pace for the deadliest driving year since 2007, National Safety Council estimates show.
The estimates represent a 14 percent increase in deaths and a 30 percent jump in serious injuries from the first six months of 2014. “The trend we are seeing on our roadways is like a flashing red light – danger lies ahead,” Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of NSC, said in a press release. “Be a defensive driver and make safe decisions behind the wheel. Your life really depends on it.”
To help stay safe while driving, NSC recommends drivers:
- Ensure every passenger buckles up.
- Designate an alcohol- and drug-free driver or arrange alternate transportation.
- Get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks to avoid fatigue.
- Never use a cell phone – handheld or hands-free – behind the wheel.
