Experts Predicted the Fourth as the Most Dangerous Driving Weekend in 2022 - Adamson Ahdoot LLP

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Experts Predicted the Fourth as the Most Dangerous Driving Weekend in 2022

July 5, 2022 Robert Jalon
Home » Blog » Experts Predicted the Fourth as the Most Dangerous Driving Weekend in 2022

A lethal combination of alcohol, drugs, high speeds, and celebration are making July 4th a day to avoid the roads

Despite high gas prices, this past 4th of July was estimated by AAA to have a record number of motorists returning to the highways on their way to celebrate. But if you were on the road this past weekend, you certainly put your life in danger.

Unfortunately, people often celebrate the Independence Day holiday weekend by consuming copious amounts of alcohol and other inhibitors, a significant contributing factor in motor-vehicle crashes. Last year, Americans put away over 68 million cases of beer during 4th of July fun.

It is little wonder then that the 4th is typically one of the deadliest time periods of the year to be on the roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), more people die in drunk driving crashes in July than in any other month. In fact, the risk of encountering drunk drivers on the Fourth of July versus a normal day jumps 78%, while AAA predicts the most dangerous week of 2022 started on the holiday.

The National Safety Council (NSC) concurred. A recent analysis estimated 400 to 580 deaths on U.S. roads over this past July 4th weekend.

If previous years are any indicators, this prediction was most likely correct. Last year’s maximum enforcement period, set by CHP over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, saw 43 people die in collisions statewide. More than a third of those who died were not wearing a seat belt. CHP made 1,317 arrests in California for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

From 2016 to 2020, there were 1,390 drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period, and 41% of the drivers killed were drunk.

During the 2019 July 4th holiday period, 515 people died in motor vehicle crashes nationwide, the NHTSA reports. Of those fatalities, 38% (198) occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, and 69% of those deaths were in a crash involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .15 or above. In 2018, 46% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive.

And many fear those stats will continue to rise. The lethal combination of driving impaired, coupled with other contributing factors like high speeds and the increased number of motorists on the road this year, alarmed experts. As shown above, Independence Day week 2022 was forecasted to be the deadliest ever.

“The biggest violation during these periods is usually speed. Everyone’s always in a hurry to get from one place to another for either an activity or just to go see family. The safest thing you can do right now is actually slow down, wear your seat belt and take your time. This is not the weekend to be speeding or crossing over double yellow lines, making a wrong turn — we will be out there in force citing people for those violations, and all this is done just to keep the death rate lowered for the holiday weekend,” Garberville CHP Public Information Officer Jonathan Clevenger said.

California, Texas, and Florida were particularly lethal. These states were found to have the highest total number of road accident deaths between July 1 and July 8, at 532 deaths, 524 deaths, and 405 deaths, respectively. Los Angeles took the prize as the most dangerous city to drive in over the holiday long weekend, accounting for 84 road fatalities since 2010.

While Jerry, a car insurance brokerage, noted in its 14-year analysis of the holiday that fatal car crashes due to drunk driving peaked at 65% between the late hours of 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., over the July 1 to July 8 holiday period.

“The National Safety Council calls on everyone planning to travel for the holiday to follow our safe driving tips to ensure you get to where you want to go as safely as possible,” Vice President of Roadway Practice Mark Chung said in a statement. “Your life and those you love may depend on it.”

If you or a loved one were in a car accident over the holiday July 4th weekend because of a drunk driver or the negligence of others, you may have a claim for your injuries and those of your passengers. Don’t wait to reach out to Adamson Ahdoot LLP. Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined legal experience and have recovered millions in compensation for our clients. More importantly, we were able to bring them peace of mind, so they could start to find relief. Contact us or call (800) 310-1606 today for your no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

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