Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time to give thanks and to spend your time with cherished friends and family. Unfortunately, nearly 450 people will die in car accidents in Indiana and elsewhere during the upcoming holiday weekend, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Another 43,500 people are expected to be injured badly enough to require professional medical attention during the 4.25 day holiday weekend.The Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23rd and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 27th. The new fatality estimates from the NSC are about 20 percent less than the average of the actual fatalities from the last six years.
Our Gary car accident attorneys understand the increased number of expected travelers equates to more risks for crashes on our roadways. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that nearly 43 million people will be traveling more than 50 miles from their home during the upcoming holiday weekend. This is up 4 percent from the 41 million who traveled for the 2010 holiday.
Gas prices are higher now than they were last year though. During the 2010 Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend, the average price per gallon was $2.88. This year’s average per gallon price is $3.39, according to CNN.
Memorial Day travel remained about the same for both 2010 and 2011, but travel for Labor Day and for Independence Day decreased from 2010 to 2011. Many experts believe that the decrease in travel is because of the increase in the price at the pump. Experts go on to conclude that travel will increase for the Thanksgiving holiday because Americans are sick of staying home and are swallowing their financial fear for some enjoyment on Turkey Day.
“Driving AAA’s projected increase in the number of Thanksgiving travelers is pent-up demand from Americans who may have foregone holiday travel the last three years,” said Bill Sutherland, vice president of AAA Travel Services.
With the increase in travelers during Thanksgiving, driving will still be the most dominant form of transportation for vacationers. Expectations for air travel are mixed. The Air Transport Association of America is forecasting a 2 percent decrease in the number of air travelers this year, while AAA is expecting a 2 percent increase.
Our Gary car accident attorneys would like to ask drivers to be safe, no matter how far you’re traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. All vehicle occupants should wear a seat belt at all times. These safety devices have been proven to be 45 percent effective in preventing death among front-seat passenger car occupants in the event of an accident. With this known information, about 150 people are expected to be saved over the holiday weekend because of seat belts. If everyone were to wear a seat belt, another 110 lives could be saved, says AAA.
The average number of traffic-related deaths over the last six Thanksgiving holiday weekends was more than 10 percent higher than the number of fatalities during similar non-holiday periods.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day weekend and drive safely on our roadways!
If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident in Indiana, call Burton Padove for a free consultation to learn about how to ensure receipt for financial compensation for injuries you or others sustain at 219-836-2200.
Additional Resources:
Crowded highways expected for Thanksgiving, by Aaron Smith, CNN
More Blog Entries:
State Police Support Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to Help Reduce Traffic Accidents in Indiana, Indiana Injury And Family Lawyer Blog, November 11, 2011
Seven Killed in Trucking Accident on Indiana Toll Road, Indiana Injury And Family Lawyer Blog, November 3, 2011