Roughly 49 million Americans are expected to travel somewhere over the Thanksgiving holiday this year in what is expected to be the busiest travel weekend in nearly a decade, according to a forecast made by the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The United States has not experienced this level of travel since 2007, prior to the global financial crisis that plagued the country, AAA said.
This year it’s anticipated that roughly one million more Americans will take journeys between Nov. 23 and Nov. 27 of at least 50 miles from home, an increase of roughly 1.9 percent over a year ago.
The good news is people will be out enjoying the holiday, but the bad news is there will be significantly more people on our roads leading to more collisions.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC) more than 400 people lose their lives and 52,000 others are injured over the 4-day Thanksgiving holiday that runs between Wednesday, Nov. 23 to Sunday, Nov. 27.
Last year traffic deaths in the Untied States were up 7.2 percent to 35,092 compared to 2014, the largest increase in 50 years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s 2,348 more fatalities than the previous year.
Personal Injury Attorney James Johnson points out that simple safety measures do safe lives.
“It’s important that drivers the precautions to ensure the safety of themselves, passengers and other motorists,” said Attorney James Johnson. “Refrain from driving drunk or drowsy, be alert and focused, make sure everyone is wearing their seat belts and your vehicle is well maintained.”
Statistics paint a grim picture of the possible outcome of not taking precautions. Drivers who get behind the wheel drunk caused 914 deaths in California. The victims accounted for 29 percent of all deaths in the Golden State. Last year there was a 2.4 percent increase in overall fatalities in the state, but the increase was 4.3 percent for fatalities involving intoxicated drivers, according to California statistics by the NHTSA.
Nationwide, about 87 percent of motorists wear seat belts, but the people who didn’t buckle up represented 44.7 percent of the deaths in 2013, the NHTSA reports.
So what if you are not driving, but you are walking or riding a bicycle? National statistics stated that the number of pedestrian fatalities grew 9.5 percent to 5,376 deaths last year. Additionally, the number of cyclists and other pedal cyclists killed last year in the U.S. grew by 12.2 percent to 818 deaths compared to 2014 — the largest increase in any category.
HOW TO HAVE A SAFE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
- Designate a driver, call a taxi or ride share service or even a friend if you plan to drink or if you are under the influence of drugs.
- Always get plenty of sleep, stop and rest or share driving to avoid fatigue.
- Keep your cell phone out of reach when you are behind the wheel and or put it on do not disturb to avoid interruptions and distractions.
- Be a role model for teenagers, make sure they do not drive with friends. One passenger in a car driven by a teenager may increase the risk of a fatal crash by 44 percent.
California Personal Injury Law Firm
Finding the right attorney to handle your personal injury claim is as important as finding the right doctor to provide treatment. You’ll need expert legal representation to ensure you get the best medical treatment and the negligent party responsible compensates you for all of your losses. Johnson Attorneys Group provides a free consultation at 1-800-235-6801 and there are no attorneys fees if there is no settlement.
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