4th of July Deadliest Day on U.S. Roads
As we hit the road to celebrate the birth of our nation, who would think this is the most dangerous day of the year to be on the road? But according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety the 4th of July is just that.
As we warn our teens to be careful with fireworks and around water add to the list driving. Teens make up nearly 10 percent of the 4th of July fatalities. We all know about the dangers of drinking an driving, but another contributing factor to teen crashes is texting while driving. Research funded by the Allstate Foundation shows that 49 percent of teens report that texting is their biggest distraction behind the wheel.
Of course, it’s not just teens. In 2010, more than 3,000 people died in crashes that involved distracted driving with another 416,000 injured. Distractions range from eating to talking on a cell phone to passengers in the vehicle. It’s amazing how much a small distraction increases your risk for a crash. Here are some examples: Reaching for a cell phone increases your risk for a crash by nine times. Texting increases your risk by 23 times. Taking your eyes off the road for five seconds at 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded. One text behind the wheel equates to four beers (.08 blood alcohol level).
Please do your part to keep our roads safe this 4th of July. Don’t text and drive and don’t drink and drive.
Have a happy and safe Independence Day from the Sioux Empire Safety Village.
