Tuscaloosa Car Accidents a Thanksgiving Weekend Risk

Nov 22, 2011 - Car Accidents, Tuscaloosa by Cross & Smith

Car accidents in Tuscaloosa and elsewhere over the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend are expected to take the lives of more than 430 people, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

An additional 43,500 people are expected to be injured seriously enough to require professional medical attention during this time. Distracted driving, drunk driving, aggressive driving, speeding and driving too fast for road conditions can all increase your risk of being involved in a serious or fatal accident.

Drivers are urged to be cautious and alert on our roadways to avoid one of these accidents. Travel preparations may be one of the best ways to avoid an accident. Know exactly where you’re headed and have a plan.

Thanksgiving is defined as the holiday weekend from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23rd to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 27th. While this year’s fatality prediction is nearly 20 percent lower than the average number of deaths over the last six Thanksgiving holidays, drivers are urged to be alert and cautious on our roadways to help avoid an accident. The Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend is more than 10 times more dangerous than any other similar non-holiday period.

Our Tuscaloosa car accident attorneys understand that the increase in travelers equates to higher risks for a crash. This year, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is predicting that roughly 43 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles for their Thanksgiving Day vacation. This number is up nearly 5 percent from the 41 million who traveled during the 2010 holiday.

After several years of high gas prices, motorists may be hitting the road anyway this holiday season. Last year’s Thanksgiving holiday recorded an average of $2.88 per gallon of gas. This year’s average sits at $3.39. Since this year’s gas prices were higher, less Americans traveled over earlier holidays. Memorial Travel was about the same as 2010 records while travel for Labor Day and Independence Day decreased significantly. Experts believe that the Americans who bypassed earlier vacations are throwing out their financial concerns for a much needed Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend vacation.

“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, the vice president of AAA Travel Services.

Most Americans will be using our roadways to get to their Thanksgiving destinations, according to CNN. Vehicular travel will remain the most popular form of transportation while air travel is shaky. AAA is predicting a 2-percent increase in air travel from last year, while the Air Transport Association of America is predicting a 2 percent decrease.

Drivers are asked to be careful and cautious on our roadways over the holiday weekend. Always wear your seat belt! Recent studies have concluded that seat belts are about 50 percent effective in saving the lives of front-seat occupants in the event of an accident. Over this weekend, seat belts are expected to save the lives of roughly 150 motorists. If everyone were to wear a seat belt, the NSC predicts that another 110 lives could be saved.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and drive carefully!

Additional Resources:

Crowded highways expected for Thanksgiving, by Aaron Smith, CNN

More Blog Entries:

Earlier Sun Set and Greater Risks for Car Accidents in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Injury Attorneys, November 15, 2011

Our Alabama Car Accident Attorneys Review AAA Study on Teen Driving Risks, Alabama Injury Attorneys, October 21, 2011