Holiday Car Crashes
The holidays are a dangerous time to be on the road, and the Memorial Day weekend proves to be one of the deadliest. Every year, hundreds of Americans die as a result of alcohol-related car crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been tracking car crash statistics for a quarter of a century. In 2010 (the most recent data available), 397 people died in crashes over the Memorial Day weekend.
Be Careful this weekend!
Holiday
Fatalities
Fourth of July
(3-day period)
392 deaths
(39 percent alcohol related)
Labor Day
(3-day period)
403 deaths
(36 percent alcohol related)
Memorial Day
(3-day period)
397 deaths
(40 percent alcohol related)
New Year's
(3-day period)
297 deaths
(48 percent alcohol related)
Thanksgiving
(4-day period)
431 deaths
(40 percent alcohol related)
Christmas
(3-day period)
259 deaths
(37 percent alcohol related)
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010 data.
Maureen Zeiler
(708) 597-5900