Three-Day Christmas Holiday Period Could be Deadliest on Roads Since 2009

National Safety Council says the only acceptable number of deaths is zero

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Dec 18, 2015, 12:47 ET

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.

ITASCA, Ill., Dec. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council estimates 307 people will be killed and 37,200 seriously injured[i] in traffic crashes during the three-day Christmas holiday period – the highest estimate the Council has issued for a three-day Christmas holiday period since 2009. The National Safety Council also estimates 346 will be killed and 41,900 seriously injured during the three-day New Year's holiday period.[ii]

An estimated total of 405 lives could be saved if everyone wore seat belts during these two holidays.

"Too many celebrations are marred by tragedies during the holiday season," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "When you are traveling, remember that you are your car's most important safety feature. Getting to zero deaths on our roadways requires each of us to be safer behind the wheel."

The two holiday periods fall at the end of a particularly deadly year on the roads. Preliminary NSC estimates indicate traffic deaths are up significantly through the first 10 months of 2015 compared with the same time period in 2014.

Tips to ensure a safer holiday season include:

Wear a seat belt on every trip
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. A single young passenger can increase a teen driver's fatal crash risk 44 percent.[iii]
Learn about your vehicle's safety systems and how to use them. My Car Does What 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 for the Christmas holiday period can be found here. Supplemental information for the New Year's holiday period 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 save lives by preventing injuries and 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.

Connect with NSC:
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[i] According to NSC analysis. "Serious injuries" are classified as those requiring medical attention.
[ii] According to NSC analysis. "Serious injuries" are classified as those requiring medical attention.
[iii] According to Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health

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SOURCE National Safety Council