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The Memorial Day holiday is a three-day weekend which ushers in the start of summer. Many Americans head to vacation destinations, barbecues or summertime parties to celebrate the beginning of summer.  Unfortunately, it is also the worst time of year for auto accidents. With more drivers on the roads, the risk of vehicle accidents increases dramatically. 

The NSC (National Safety Council) reports that one of the deadliest annual holidays for vehicle-related accidents is Memorial Day weekend. Over the last decade, the Memorial Day weekend averaged an 11.5 percent increase in traffic fatalities compared to other similar non-holiday periods. 

When reviewing NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) data, we find that an average of 400 people die in traffic accidents and similar incidents during the Memorial Day weekend. 

What are the primary causes of traffic accidents? 

News media and agencies such as the NHTSA, the NSC (National Safety Council) and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) say: 

• More drivers are on the road. The main contributing factor is that there are simply more drivers on the road on holiday weekends, which increases the risk of a crash. The increase in traffic that occurs during holiday weekends in the summer almost always is matched by an increase in fatal roadway accidents. 

• According to the NHTSA, 44 percent of traffic fatalities over Memorial Day weekend involve alcohol.  

• Distracted Driving. More than 3,000 people are killed on U.S. roads every year in distracted-driving crashes, the federal government reports. Cell phone use is a common driver distraction. An estimated one in four car crashes involves the use of a cell phone, the National Safety Council experts say. 

• Speed. Excess speed is a factor in about 70 percent of accidents involving fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 

• False sense of security in warmer weather. A separate survey from Michelin for National Tire Safety Week found that warm temperatures and longer days may lull drivers into a false sense of security. Drivers are less careful when the weather is nice: 81percent said they were less likely to drive cautiously in the summer and 72 percent said they were less likely to pay close attention to other drivers. 

If you or a loved one is planning to be on the roads at any time, please take these safety recommendations from Injury Hotline and Nationwide in mind: 

• Refrain from all cell phone or other electronic device use when behind the wheel.
• Make sure all passengers are buckled up, and children are in age-appropriate safety seats.
• Drive defensively and exercise caution. Be aware of what other drivers around you are doing, and expect the unexpected.
• Avoid driving while drowsy.
• Designate a “non-drinking” driver; even moderate consumption of alcohol impairs reaction time and driving judgment.
• Keep a 2-second cushion between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Slow down. Speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident. 
• Keep 100 percent of your attention on driving at all times – no multi-tasking.  

“We at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. wish everyone a very happy and safe Memorial Day holiday. Should you need us if you are injured in an accident, however, we are available 24/7 to assist you. Please remember there are no costs or attorney fees unless we make a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers DUI accident attorney, Randall Spivey. 

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.