Fourth of July is a time to celebrate America’s independence –with many displaying their national pride by attending parades, festivals, and barbeques.
This year, AAA estimates 41.4 million Americans will be hitting the road to get to their celebration destination, the most on record for the holiday and an increase of 4.3% over last year. With this amount of cars on the road, unfortunately accidents and tragedy are possible.
Pennsylvania Has High Rate of Car Accidents Fourth of July Weekend
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there were 308 accidents on Independence Day in 2017, resulting in the death of nine people. Of these crashes, 27 involved a driver under the influence of alcohol.
Unfortunately, accidents and fatalities during this weekend are becoming a trend. From 2008-2017, Pennsylvania has recorded 71 road fatalities over the long Independence Day weekends – making it the fifth most dangerous state to drive during this time.
Avoid Drunk Driving this Holiday Weekend
While accidents can occur for a host of reasons, they are more probable when a driver is under the influence of alcohol due to decreased reaction time. Driving impaired not only puts a driver at risk of injury or death, but also other innocent lives on the road. Make the smart decision—don’t drink and drive. There are plenty of other options to stay safe and avoid a serious accident from occurring. If you choose to drink this holiday weekend, make sure you:
- Have a Plan – before attending holiday festivities, choose a designated driver who will stay sober. Remember, buzzed driving is drunk driving. If no one is available to drive you, use a rideshare service or call a cab.
- Don’t Let Friends or Family Members Drive Drunk – encourage them to stay at the place they are drinking, to use a rideshare app such as Uber or Lyft, or to call a sober friend to pick them up.
Freeburn Law would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July! If you have any questions about an accident you were involved in during the Fourth of July weekend, call Freeburn Law at 717-777-7777. We’ll talk with you for free and answer any questions you may have.