National Safety Council Urges Drivers to Take Control of Their Safety this Thanksgiving Holiday

More than 400 people may perish on the roads, but the goal is zero

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Nov 17, 2016, 12:20 ET

ITASCA, Ill., Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council is calling on drivers to be vigilant about safety while traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday period. The Council estimates as many as 437 people may be killed and 50,300 may be seriously injured in car crashes between 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23 and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 27.

The estimated fatality total is 12 percent higher than the average number of fatalities – 391 – that have occurred during the previous six Thanksgiving holiday periods.

The mission of the National Safety Council is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. (PRNewsFoto/National Safety Council)

"During the holidays, many drivers are more concerned about getting to their destinations quickly than safely," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "But overlooking common roadway risks can have deadly consequences. Make sure you pay attention and drive defensively so everyone can spend time with friends and family rather than at a hospital."

National Safety Council data show that 2016 already has been particularly deadly. Motor vehicle deaths were 9 percent higher nationwide through the first six months of the year compared to 2015, and 18 percent higher than the same period in 2014. The increase has prompted the National Safety Council to partner with government, non-profit and advocacy groups to form the Road to Zero Coalition, which is committed to ending roadway fatalities in 30 years.

Tips to help drivers stay safe during Thanksgiving travel include:

Designate an alcohol and drug-free driver or arrange alternate transportation
Get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks to avoid fatigue
Never use a cell phone behind the wheel, even hands-free
Do not allow teens to drive with their friends or younger siblings. A single young passenger can increase a teen driver's fatal crash risk 44 percent.ⁱ
Learn about your vehicle's safety systems and how to use them. MyCarDoesWhat can help drivers understand the ins and outs of features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning systems and backup cameras.

Supplemental traffic fatality estimates information can be found here.

About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, nsc.org, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and Safe Communities.

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ⁱAccording to Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health

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SOURCE National Safety Council