Vehicles move north on the Florida Turnpike through Boynton Beach on Sept. 8, 2017, four days after Labor Day, and teo fasys before Hurricane Irma struck the state in the Florida Keys. File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 25 (UPI) — An estimated 424 people may die in traffic crashes during the Labor Day holiday period, the unofficial end to summer travel, the National Safety Council said Monday.
The nonprofit safety advocate gives a range of 365 to 487 fatalities that will occur from 6 p.m. CDT Friday to 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1, on Labor Day. The confidence level is 90%.
In 2023, there were 495 deaths, with the estimate 455 and the range 377 to 541. NSC doesn’t have data from 2024.
Since 1995, all but three of the NSC’s Labor Day forecasts fell within the confidence interval.
The estimated nonfatal injuries from crashes will be 48,400 with a range of 41,600 to 55,500, NSC said.
“Labor Day weekend travel requires extra caution,” Mark Chung, executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy at NSC, said. “We’re still in the most dangerous season for roadway users, and everyone plays a role in preventing avoidable tragedies. Drivers who plan on traveling during Labor Day weekend must exercise increased caution and take the necessary steps to arrive safely.”
NSC offers travel tips, including planning ahead and designating a sober driver before celebrations begin, or use a rideshare service, taxi or public transportation.
The agency estimates 152 lives — 45% of the total — may be saved this Labor Day holiday period because front-seat occupants wear their seat belts. An additional 108 deaths could be prevented if everyone wears seat belts.
The agency said 36% of traffic fatalities during the Labor Day weekend are linked to an alcohol-impaired driver. The figure was 30% throughout 2023.
Two days ago, Mothers Against Drunk Driving joined forces with law enforcement across the nation for “Saturation Saturday,” in an effort to educate people before everyone gets on the road over Labor Day weekend.
MADD and 260 law enforcement departments in 16 states conducted sobriety checkpoints and DUI patrols on Saturday.
Since 2019, drunken driving deaths increased 33% across Labor Day weekends, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, or FARS.
Much fewer people will take to the road for this holiday than for Memorial Day and Independence Day, and AAA doesn’t conduct a full travel forecast. On the Fourth of July, the motor club said a record 61.6 million people were expected to travel in the U.S. by vehicle.
“Americans see the extended Labor Day weekend as an opportunity to say farewell to summer with one final trip,” Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA — The Auto Club Group, said. “Since many kids are already back in school, regional road trips tend to be the most popular option for families. Because of that, others see this as an opportunity to travel the world, with the expectation of smaller crowds at popular sites.”
Gas prices are running below last year’s $3.333 per unleaded gallon national average on Labor Day.
On Monday, the average price was $3.16 compared with $3.353 one year ago on the same date, according to AAA. The state with the lowest average is $2.682 in Oklahoma, and California is the highest at $4.559.
The nationwide record was $5.016 on June 14, 2022.