Community Corner
July Fourth is Deadliest Summer Holiday
Law enforcement target the Independence Day holiday as part of Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
The Fourth of July is a time to enjoy America’s Independence, kick back with family and friends, enjoy fireworks and cook out.
But that independence may come at a price. Between 2007 and 2011, 670 people died in crashes on July Fourth, as opposed to 557 on Memorial Day and 529 on Labor Day, according to a AAA analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
It’s not just the total that is higher. The Independence Day holiday had more fatal crashes than either of the other holidays in each one of those years as well.
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“The Fourth of July may be one of the nation’s most popular holidays, but, unfortunately, it’s also one of the most dangerous on our nation’s roads,” said Jenny Robinson, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, in a press release. “If you’re too tired or you had too much to drink, hand the keys to someone else or call a cab. It’s not worth risking your life and the lives of others.”
AAA offers these tips to avoid a drunk-driving tragedy:
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Plan a safe way home before the fun begins
Before drinking, designate a sober driver
If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely
If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911
If you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely
Police will be on the roads as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over to crack down on those who drink and drive.
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