According to the Auto Club of Southern California, 2.8 million Southern Californians are expected to travel via automobile over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Further, it's expected that Friday, May 26 will be the busiest day on the roads nationally. Therefore, it's advised to leave either early in the morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid the peak congestion on this day.
Unfortunately, more people die on the road over the three-day Memorial Day weekend than any other holiday weekend each year. The reason is a higher number of alcohol-impaired drivers.
This Memorial Day holiday period, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 469 people may die on U.S. roads. So, if you will be driving over the Memorial Day weekend, there are steps you can take to stay safe and avoid an accident:
- Perform vehicle maintenance.
- Give yourself a lot of extra travel time.
- Pay extra attention when crossing intersections.
- Eliminate distractions. (mobile phones, loud music)
- Slow down a little.
- Don't drink and drive.
What to do if you’re involved in a crash during the holiday weekend?
If you are involved in an accident, the first thing you should do is consider your safety. Call 911. Next, exchange insurance and contact information. Take pictures of all vehicle damage which will help with your accident claim. File a police accident report and a claim with your insurance company.
Memorial Day weekend can be fun if you put safety first!