Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys urges drivers to use caution on Labor Day weekend

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, and is one of the busiest on the roads, as families and individuals take advantage of the weather for last minute summer trips.

AAA travel reported that more people are expected to get away this Labor Day than in the past six years. AAA says that 34.7 million Americans are expected to travel over Labor Day weekend, with nearly 86% likely to head to their destinations by car.

The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates there will nearly 400 fatalities in car crashes during Labor Day weekend, with an additional 42,300 injured in car crashes. They estimate the holiday to be from Friday night at 6 thru Monday at midnight.

According to an article in USA Today, there are two major reasons for accidents on highways: losing concentration while driving and ignoring the risk of big trucks. If you are tired or have had a drink, have someone else do the driving. It is also important to avoid distractions, including cell phones and other distractions. Be aware of big trucks that are on the road as well, they are especially dangerous if you cut in front of them quickly and unexpectedly. They often times cannot stop quickly brake quickly enough to avoid a collision and also have many blind spots.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), someone is killed in a drunk driving crash every 51 minutes on average during the year. Over the Labor Day weekend, that statistic jumps to one drunk driving fatality every 34 minutes.

The personal injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys offer the following tips for a safer Labor Day weekend:

• Leave early for your destination, giving yourself plenty of time to travel.
• Refrain from distractions, such as cell phones and other electronic devices, as well as eating or grooming while driving.
• Wear your seat belt and make sure that everyone in your car is also wearing a seat belt. The NSC also estimates that nearly 144 lives can be saved by simply wearing a seat belt.
• Don’t speed. Follow all posted speed limit signs and be careful when traveling through work zones.
• Don’t drink and drive. If you know you will be drinking, plan for a designated driver.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys encourages you and your families to buckle up and celebrate Labor Day safely this weekend, by driving carefully and following our tips. For more information on the Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, visit www.munley.com.