Distracted driving and driving under the influence of alcohol are the main causes of road accidents, and while these dangerous driving behaviors put people’s lives at risk throughout the year, the frequency of accidents caused by drunk or distracted drivers increases dramatically around one of the most important holidays in the US – the 4th of July. According to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 4th of July is the deadliest day on US roads, with over 800 fatal crashes occurring on Independence Day between 2006 and 2010.
The vast majority of these accidents involve drinking and driving or distracted driving. One of the reasons why there are so many car crashes over 4th of July is that the number of vehicles on the road, and the number of drunk drivers, increases drastically during the holiday period, with millions of people driving to or from parties or family gatherings, where large amounts of alcohol are consumed.
In addition to drunk drivers, distracted drivers are another threat to public safety on Independence Day. Given that driving on days with increased traffic is pretty challenging, and it requires a higher level of attention and focus on the road, even the slightest distraction while behind the wheel can lead to a disaster. Drivers, especially the younger ones, tend to get easily distracted when they find themselves in heavy traffic, and going to or coming back from a party or a celebration of any kind increases the risk of getting distracted that much more, as they are thinking about the party, which takes their attention away from the road.
This is why drivers need to exercise extreme caution during the 4th of July holiday period, and practice safe driving techniques to avoid getting into an accident. One of the most important things drivers need to remember is that they should not get behind the wheel after they have been drinking. Alcohol impairs a person’s driving abilities and reduces their reaction time significantly, making it difficult for them to maintain a safe following distance, pay attention to traffic signs and signals, and make timely accident avoidance maneuvers. Those who intend to drink, should be accompanied by a designated driver who will bring them back home safely, or get a cab after the party is over.
Another thing drivers must bear in mind is that they have to try and avoid distractions. Talking on a cell phone and texting are the most common sources of driver distraction, so you need to ignore incoming phone calls or messages while you are driving, and only use your phone in case of an emergency. Also, if you are using a navigation system, you should enter your route before you hit the road, so you don’t have to adjust the settings on your GPS device while driving.
Considering how dangerous driving during the 4th of July holiday period can be, there are two main things drivers must remember so that they can stay safe while on the road: don’t drink and drive and don’t drive distracted.
Resources:Distracted drving laws per state