We can prevent fatalities and crashes – and yes, even speeding tickets – by following these 6 safe driving tips for Memorial Day Weekend travel.
Memorial Day weekend is here. All our attorneys and professional staff at Michigan Auto Law want to share our deepest gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. Military and their families for the sacrifices they make for us all.
Because the Memorial Day weekend travel is busy – with people on the road and traveling to cottages and to visit with family and friends all over the state – we also want to share these 6 safe driving tips for Memorial Day Weekend travel to help remind drivers to be particularly careful on the roads while traveling on busy roads this holiday weekend to ensure everyone makes it to their destinations safe and sound.
6 Safe Driving Tips For Memorial Day Weekend Travel
-
-
- Put the phones away – Texting and distracted driving is skyrocketing as a cause of far too many of the crashes that I litigate as a car accident attorney.
- Avoid drinking and driving – There’s a lot of it this Memorial Day weekend, far more than there normally is. Don’t get behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking.
- Observe the speed limits – Speed kills. Physics play a role in car crashes when it comes to injury severity or the increased risk of causing a fatality. This may necessitate leaving for your destinations a little on the early side, but for everyone’s sake, it’s worth it.
- Avoid overpacking your vehicle – Give your driver a clear line of vision in all directions. Don’t let suitcases and camping gear block side and rear-view mirrors.
- Secure any cargo – Make sure bikes, canoes and luggage racks are secured tightly in case you have to stop abruptly or you encounter a crater-like Michigan pothole.
- Wear those seat belts – This applies to both front AND back seats occupants. Below I explain why rear-seat passengers need to wear seat belts, too.
-
Seat belts for rear-seat passengers
Many people mistakenly believe seatbelts aren’t necessary for back seat riders.
But, as I explained in my recent blog post, “Should rear seat passengers buckle safety belts?,” research shows:
Rear-seat occupants without seatbelts were 8 times more likely to be seriously injured in a car crash;
Drivers are 2 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries if the rear-seat passenger behind them is not buckled up.
Why seat belt use is important during Memorial Day Weekend Travel
NHTSA reports that:
“Of the 37,133 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017, 47% were not wearing seat belts. In 2017 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts.”
Additionally, Michigan Traffic Crash Facts reports (Fact Sheet “Seat Belt Usage”) that:
Nearly 37% of all the people killed in Michigan car crashes in 2017 “for which seat belt use was known” were not wearing their seat belts.
Safe Travels
Thanks for taking the time to read our safe driving tips for Memorial Day weekend travel and doing your part to keep the roads safe. On behalf of all the attorneys here at Michigan Auto Law, we wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day!
