According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 118 lives are taken in car accidents on the Fourth of July every year, making it the most dangerous day for driving. Fatal motorcycle accidents also increase on July 4th, rising to an average of 26, more than double the daily average.
This year, AAA estimates 39.7 million people will be traveling for the holiday during the period of July 3rd through the 8th. If you plan on being among them, it is vital that you drive sober and safely to help prevent causing or being involved in a car accident.
Drunk Driving
By far the largest contributing factor to car, truck, and motorcycle accidents on July 4th is alcohol. On average, 35% of all fatal car accidents involve alcohol. On the Fourth of July, 47% of deaths involve at least one person whose BAC is .08 g/dl or higher.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, 1,454 people died in alcohol-related crashes in our state during the first quarter of 2018. The only way to prevent this number from increasing is to refuse to drive while drunk.
Even a little bit of alcohol can impact your ability to operate a vehicle. Research has shown that a BAC of .02 g/dl can come with impaired judgment and visual function while making it more difficult to perform two tasks, like pushing the gas while steering straight, at the same time. At .05 g/dl, a loss of muscle control and good judgment can combine with “reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, [and] reduced response to emergency driving situations,” according to the NHTSA. Depending on your weight, .05 can be reached with a single drink.
This July 4th, be sure to drive sober in order to help protect yourself and others. If you are injured by a drunk, distracted, or otherwise irresponsible driver over the Fourth of July holiday, call 423-443-3973 to learn how Herbert Thornbury, Attorney at Law can help.
Located in Chattanooga, Attorney Thornbury serves nearby areas of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.
