NSC: Roads may be the deadliest they’ve been since 2007 over Thanksgiving holiday

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.

The holiday falls just days after the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, observed the third Sunday of November each year.

NSC urges all drivers to prevent crashes and save lives this Thanksgiving weekend 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 car 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.

“We hear it all the time, but if a loved one tells you to ‘drive safe,’ even out of habit, please do,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of roadway practice at NSC. “The National Safety Council cannot stress enough the importance of taking safety personally, especially on the roads during the holidays.”