Let’s all drive safely this Memorial Day weekend, NSC says

Washington — With its new estimate showing that 418 people may be killed in motor vehicle crashes over the Memorial Day weekend, the National Safety Council is asking people to take steps to stay safe.

Prepare before you go. Before hitting the road, check your vehicle’s oil level and tire pressure. Then, visit ChecktoProtect.org to see if your vehicle has an open recall. You’ll be able to get it repaired for free.

Buckle up. Lack of seat belt use is a top cause of fatalities in crashes. Also, make sure you have appropriate car seats installed correctly.

Designate a sober driver or arrange alternate transportation. Alcohol and drugs – including opioids, marijuana and some over-the-counter medicines – can cause drowsiness, alter visual functions, and affect mental judgment and motor skills.

Slow down. Speeding is a factor in more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities. Drive the speed limit or below it if conditions dictate. Pay close attention to pedestrians.

Drive distraction-free. Thousands of people have died in car crashes because someone was using a cellphone. Put your phone away and #JustDrive.

Look before you lock. Vehicular heatstroke is still the leading cause of non-crash motor vehicle-related fatalities among children. In 2023, 29 children in the United States died because of this completely preventable tragedy. Always check your back seat for children or animals when you reach your destination.

Demand safer roads and safer speeds. A recent survey conducted by NSC found that many adults in the United States are “concerned about their safety and the safety of family and friends on roads.”

Participants agreed with statements such as:

• No one should be seriously injured or killed on roadways.
• People make mistakes.
• Roadway systems should be designed so that mistakes are less likely to result in death or serious injury.

Elements of safer roads include rumble strips, protected bicycle lanes, clearly marked crosswalks and roundabouts. Join the Road to Zero Coalition to learn about the Safe System approach to roadway safety.