NSC projects highest number of Labor Day weekend traffic deaths in nearly a decade
The National Safety Council estimates that as many as 421 people could be killed and 48,400 seriously injured in motor vehicle-related crashes during the upcoming Labor Day weekend.
The estimate is the highest NSC has issued for the holiday period since 2008, and is 11 percent higher than the average number of fatalities that have occurred over the past six Labor Day weekends for which data is available, a press release from the council states.
“Many families will use Labor Day weekend to make their final summer memories before kids return to school,” NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman said in the release. “We want that last hurrah to be fun, not fatal. When you are on the roads, be alert and drive defensively – making smart decisions could be the difference between a relaxing long weekend and one spent in the emergency room.”
NSC offers additional tips for staying safe on the road:
- Make sure every passenger wears a seat belt, and ensure children are properly restrained.
- Designate an alcohol- and drug-free driver, or arrange alternate transportation.
- Avoid fatigue by getting plenty of sleep and taking regular breaks.
- Never use cellphones – even hands-free – behind the wheel.