Memorial Day is here and Americans are ready to pack their bags, close up the office and head out for a much-needed vacation. As a matter of fact, the Huffington Post reports that one out of every three Americans will be traveling during the Memorial Day long-weekend holiday. More than 85 percent of people plan to take a leisure trip over the summer, too.
Our Fort Myers car accident lawyers understand that gas prices are up a bit, but that’s not stopping anyone as the most popular form of transportation for these summertime travel trips is a motor vehicle (close to 75 percent). Following the drivers are those planning to travel by plane and then by train. And we can expect to see a lot of these travelers as more than 50 percent of travelers will be heading to the water. According to a recent study, coastal destinations can help to improve a traveler’s health, help them to better their quality of life and reduce stress.
It’s going to be a busy travel weekend — one of the worst. According to the National Safety Council (NSC) there will be hundreds who are killed in traffic accidents during this long weekend. As a matter of fact, officials predict that close to 410 people are going to die on our roadways before we all return to work Tuesday morning. In addition to those fatalities, they’re also predicting that close to 40,000 people are going to be injured.
“NSC issues fatality estimates for major holiday periods to draw attention to the need for drivers to exercise safe driving practices,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of NSC.
Based on recent studies, the fatalities that occur over the Memorial Day weekend account for close to 13 percent of all traffic fatalities that happen during the month of May. This year, officials are estimating that this holiday weekend will only see about 7 percent of the fatalities for the month, partially because of the struggling economy.
But it’s no time to hang up our hats. Safety should still be a top concern for all travelers this weekend. And wearing your seat belt may be one of the safest moves you can make. Officials with the NSC estimate that there will be close to 150 lives that will be saved over the weekend because of seat belt usage. If all motorists were to wear a seat belt, officials predict that another 100 people could be saved.
Before heading out, we’re asking you to check traffic conditions. This will help you to stay out of congested areas and to avoid delays. You can easily do this by checking out the Florida’s Statewide 511 Website.
Go out there with a plan. Know where you’re going, how to get there and how long it’s going to take. Preparation is going to help you avoid an accident.
We’re wishing you a Happy Memorial Day and asking that you travel safely and responsibly.
If you or someone you love is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-283-2900 today.
More Blog Entries:
Detailed look at Florida’s Texting Ban, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, May 17, 2013
Motorcycle Accidents in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, in Focus for Safety Month, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, May 16, 2013