The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates indicate that 402 people may be killed on the roads during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. It is the second consecutive year that the Council has forecast more than 400 roadway deaths over Memorial Day weekend.
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NSC also estimates 45,800 people may be seriously injured (i.e., sustaining injuries that require medical attention) on the roads during the three-day holiday period, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday, May 25, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 28.
“Memorial Day should mark the start of summer—not a deadly driving season,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the NSC. “If we pay attention, slow down and be courteous, we can increase our chances of making it to picnics, beaches and barbecues rather than emergency rooms.”
Summer tends to be a deadly period on the roads, and the warm-weather holidays are even deadlier. When compared to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, the three summertime holidays—Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day—typically claim over 110 lives each day, the highest average per-day fatality rates.
Tips for a safer holiday weekend include:
- Practice defensive driving. Buckle up, designate a sober driver or arrange alternative transportation, get plenty of sleep to avoid fatigue, and drive attentively, avoiding distractions. Visit nsc.org for more defensive driving tips.
- Recognize the dangers of drugged driving, including impairment from prescription opioids. Visit stopeverydaykillers.org to understand the impact of the nation’s opioid crisis.
- Stay engaged in teens’ driving habits. Visit DriveitHOME.org for resources.
- Learn about your vehicle’s safety systems and how to use them. Visit MyCarDoesWhat.org for information.
- Fix recalls immediately. Visit ChecktoProtect.org to ensure your vehicle does not have an open recall.
- Ask lawmakers and state leaders to protect travelers on state roadways. Read the State of Safety report to find out which states have the strongest and weakest traffic safety laws.
- Join the Road to Zero coalition to understand how safety professionals are addressing motor vehicle fatalities. Visit nsc.org/roadtozero to get involved.
Supplemental information about the Memorial Day holiday fatality estimates, along with additional motor vehicle data and research, can be found at injuryfacts.nsc.org.