Approximately 39.4 million people are expected to travel by car this Memorial Day weekend, one million more than last year, according to AAA.Every year, the National Safety Council estimates how many traffic deaths will occur on Memorial Day weekend using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System data. This year, NSC estimates there will be about 443 traffic deaths this weekend – 6% higher than last year's. Memorial Day is one of the more dangerous holidays for traffic accidents, said Ken Kolosh, a statistics manager at NSC.Over the past 29 years, the majority of Memorial Day weekends have resulted in higher traffic deaths compared to the previous and following weekends. NSC analyzed FARS data, which tracks fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes, to determine how many deaths occurred the weekend before, during and after Memorial Day. Kolosh found that over the past six years, the average number of traffic deaths during Memorial Day weekend has been about 10% higher than on a comparable non-holiday weekend. Traffic deaths refer to fatalities involving all types of road users, including pedestrians, vehicle occupants, bicyclists and more. In 2023, there were 465 traffic deaths in the U.S. during Memorial Day. What causes traffic accidents to increase on Memorial Day?According to Kolosh, traffic volume increases during Memorial Day weekend, which contributes to the rise in traffic accidents. More drivers are on the road, traveling longer distances and engaging in risky behaviors behind the wheel.Risky behaviors include speeding and not wearing a seatbelt. In 2023, during Memorial Day weekend, 48% of passenger vehicle occupants who died in crashes were not wearing seatbelts, said Kolosh. Alcohol consumption also plays a major role in the rise of traffic accidents. During the 2023 Memorial Day weekend, alcohol accounted for 39% of fatalities. How to stay safe this weekend Kolosh shared several important safety tips for the upcoming weekend, like avoiding speeding, always wearing your seatbelt and ensuring all your passengers are buckled up as well. He also recommends defensive driving, staying alert and avoiding distractions behind the wheel, as well as not driving under the influence. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
WASHINGTON — Approximately 39.4 million people are expected to travel by car this Memorial Day weekend, one million more than last year, according to .
Every year, the estimates how many traffic deaths will occur on Memorial Day weekend using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System data.
This year, NSC estimates there will be about this weekend – 6% higher than last year's.
Memorial Day is one of the more dangerous holidays for traffic accidents, said Ken Kolosh, a statistics manager at NSC.
Over the past 29 years, the majority of Memorial Day weekends have resulted in higher traffic deaths compared to the previous and following weekends.
NSC analyzed FARS data, which tracks fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes, to determine how many deaths occurred the weekend before, during and after Memorial Day.
Kolosh found that over the past six years, the average number of traffic deaths during Memorial Day weekend has been about 10% higher than on a comparable non-holiday weekend.
Traffic deaths refer to fatalities involving all types of road users, including pedestrians, vehicle occupants, bicyclists and more.
In 2023, there were 465 traffic deaths in the U.S. during Memorial Day.
What causes traffic accidents to increase on Memorial Day?
According to Kolosh, traffic volume increases during Memorial Day weekend, which contributes to the rise in traffic accidents. More drivers are on the road, traveling longer distances and engaging in risky behaviors behind the wheel.
Risky behaviors include speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.
In 2023, during Memorial Day weekend, 48% of passenger vehicle occupants who died in crashes were not wearing seatbelts, said Kolosh.
Alcohol consumption also plays a major role in the rise of traffic accidents. During the 2023 Memorial Day weekend, alcohol accounted for 39% of fatalities.
How to stay safe this weekend
Kolosh shared several important safety tips for the upcoming weekend, like avoiding speeding, always wearing your seatbelt and ensuring all your passengers are buckled up as well.
He also recommends defensive driving, staying alert and avoiding distractions behind the wheel, as well as not driving under the influence.
