Cheers to all the Dads out there on Father’s Day, but the cold, hard statistics suggest it is a day to use special caution. AutoInsurance.Org has analyzed crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and determined that Father’s Day is the 5th most dangerous day of the entire year to be on the highway.
An average of 439 fatal crashes occur during the Father’s Day holiday weekend. “Two major causes for the high number of fatal crashes during Father’s Day are the spike in traffic and the higher number of drunk drivers, which make the roads more perilous than for most other holidays.”
Many holidays see an increase in fatal accidents, as more people hit the road and, unfortunately, more people also hit the bottle before doing so. Here are the top 10 on this regretful list:
1. Independence Day
2. Memorial Day
3. Labor Day
4. Columbus Day
5. Father’s Day
6. Mother’s Day
7. Halloween
8. Thanksgiving
9. Veterans Day
10. Cinco de Mayo
Some of these holidays are unsurprising – July 4th and Cinco de Mayo – but Father’s Day surprises us for being such a dangerous day.
So what do you do to celebrate Dad but stay safe? NHTSA urges a simple, five-point plan:
1. Plan a safe and sober ride home before drinking alcohol.
2. Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if that person has been drinking.
3. If you’re hosting a party, make sure everyone has a sober ride home.
4. Always wear your seat belt. It’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
5. If you see a drunk driver, call 911.
Please help remind your family and friends of these simple tips. It is well known that alcohol clouds one’s judgment, and they may just need the assistance.
Celebrate Dad but stay safe. If someone else doesn’t and causes an accident, contact Lesser, Lesser, Landy and Smith. We are here to help.
