Thanksgiving holiday may see most traffic fatalities since 2007: NSC estimates

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council estimates more than 500 people may die on U.S. roads over the upcoming Thanksgiving Day weekend – the highest projection of roadway deaths for the holiday period since 2007.

“Traffic fatalities continue to increase at devastating rates,” said Mark Chung, vice president of roadway practice at NSC. “It’s absolutely vital that anyone driving during the Thanksgiving holiday period practice safe, responsible driving behaviors because the good news is that losing lives on our roadways is preventable. Please do your part: prepare before traveling, buckle up, slow down, put phones away and drive unimpaired; it can make all the difference.”

NSC calls on all drivers to prevent crashes and save lives this Thanksgiving weekend, which runs from 6 p.m. on Nov. 24 to 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 28, by practicing the following:
Prepare before you go: Before hitting the road, make sure your car is safe for driving. Vehicle owners should check the oil, put air in the tires, and check for and repair open recalls. Visit ChecktoProtect.org to see if your vehicle has an open recall.
Buckle up: Buckle up, and make sure child care seats are appropriate and installed correctly.
Drive distraction-free: Thousands of people have died in crashes involving cellphone use. Put your phone away and #JustDrive.
Slow down: Speeding is a factor in more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities. Stay within posted speed limits. And be sure to pay attention to people walking and biking to keep all road users safe.
Designate a sober driver or arrange alternate transportation: Alcohol is only one cause of impaired driving. Drugs, including opioids, marijuana and some over-the-counter medicines, can cause drowsiness, alter visual functions, and affect mental judgment and motor skills.