LA Among Deadliest Cities For Labor Day Weekend Drivers: Report

LOS ANGELES, CA — As Labor Day approaches, Californians are preparing to hit the road to enjoy the three-day weekend. But the holiday tends to set up dangerous conditions for drivers.

Labor Day weekend ranks as the deadliest summer holiday for traffic fatalities and California is among the deadliest states for drivers over the holiday weekend, according to a study from car insurance application Jerry.

Los Angeles was ranked as having the most traffic fatalities between 2011 and 2020. Behind L.A. was Dallas, Charlotte, Louisville and Houston, according to the report.

The Golden State is home to three of the most dangerous roads in the country, according to the report, which drew data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

State Route-132 in Stanislaus County, Interstate-5 in Los Angeles County and Palm Drive in Riverside were listed as one of the 10 most dangerous roads to drive in the country over the holiday weekend.

According to Jerry, California has seen the most Labor Day traffic deaths in people aged 16-25 from 2011 to 2020. Behind the most populous state was Texas and Florida, the second and third most populous states.

Speeding and alcohol were cited as the most common factors in crashes that killed young people.

Saturdays, including hours after midnight on Friday, accounted for most of the deaths included in the report.

The California Highway Patrol is poised to launch a maximum enforcement period at 6 p.m. on Friday, which will continue through 11:59 p.m. on Monday. During this period, officers will be on the lookout for those who are suspected of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

At least 43 people were killed in vehicle crashes on California roadways during the holiday weekend last year, CHP officials wrote in a statement.

Officers made 985 DUI arrests and issued more than 6,000 speeding citations throughout the state during last year’s Labor Day weekend, according to the CHP.