CHICAGO (Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.) – The last few weeks of the summer vacation season are upon us. Labor Day weekend marks the end of the summer travel season, and for many people it is their last opportunity for a quick weekend getaway before the kids head back to school.
Many travel companies warn of increased traffic on the roads and in the airports over the Labor Day weekend. In fact, USA Today cites the weekend as one of the top 10 worst travel days of the year. And as always, more drivers on the road means an increased risk of car accidents.
According to a report from the New York Post, this year could mark the deadliest Labor Day weekend in years.
Traffic fatalities were up 9 percent in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year, a report from the National Safety Council states. The same report predicts that 438 people will be killed on the nation’s roads over the three-day Labor Day weekend.
In anticipation of the increased risk for crashes, many law enforcement agencies increase their DUI enforcement during holiday weekends as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s nationwide mobilization against drunk driving. Every year, hundreds of Americans die as a result of alcohol-related crashes. To combat drunk driving, officers routinely set up sobriety checkpoints on holiday weekends when driving under the influence is most common.
Some crashes are unavoidable, but most crashes can be prevented. To help avoid serious accidents this Fourth of July weekend, the attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., have put together a list of safety tips to use while traveling:
- Buckle up!
- Reduce your speed
- Don’t drink and drive
- Don’t text and drive
- Check your vehicle
- Drive defensively
- Avoid driving while fatigued
- Keep children safe both in and around your vehicle (Children 12 years old and younger should ALWAYS be in the back seat.)
You can’t control what careless motorists do, but you can take control of your life after a crash.
If you are involved in a traffic accident, the road to recovery starts by contacting an attorney who will protect your rights, seek the compensation you deserve and ultimately help to lift your burdens. The attorneys of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., have decades of experience with car accident cases. If you find yourself the victim of a crash, contact us for a free, no obligation consultation.
