The Dangers of Driving in the Summer: Why More Fatal Accidents Happen
Summer is a time for fun in the sun, but it can also be a dangerous time to drive! In fact, from June through August more fatal accidents happen than any other months in the United States each year. 9,025 fatal accidents occurred during these months in 2019. There are many reasons for an uptick in general accidents as well as fatal accidents.
First, there are more drivers on American roads. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that 657 million long distance summer trips were made during the 16-week period between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend in 2001. That number has steadily increased over the past 20 years, not to be stalled significantly during the summer of COVID-19. When more drivers are present, it’s inherent that more accidents will occur.
Second, there are more young drivers on the road in the summertime. Teens are out of school and have more free time to drive around with friends. Inexperience behind the wheel can lead to dangerous mistakes. In 2019, almost 2,400 teens in the United States aged 13–19 were killed and about 258,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. When inexperience meets a busier road, accidents certainly increase!
An increase in the number of motorcyclists and bicyclists on the road is a cause for increased accidents. People are outside more in the summer months and take to two wheels to enjoy the weather. Unfortunately, this can be a recipe for disaster as motorcycles and bicycles don’t provide their riders with much protection in an accident. In 2019, there were 89,000 motorcycle riders and 15,000 bicyclists injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Riding a bike or a motorcycle in the summer doesn’t seem so fun after reading this, does it?
Tire blowouts are also more common in the summer. The heat of summertime can cause tires to fail, especially if they’re already worn down or low on air. In fact, 27% of tire-related car crashes happen between May and September according to the US DOT. That’s a significant increase over the other months of the year!
Road construction increases in the summer months because of the good weather. While road construction is necessary to maintain our infrastructure, it can also be dangerous. Drivers need to be extra careful when driving through construction zones and pay attention to any changes in the flow of traffic.
Finally, drunk driving increases in the summer months. Every 52 minutes, someone in the United States dies in a drunk driving accident.The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ranks Fourth of July as the most hazardous driving day of the year. On Independence Day, 47 percent of deaths involve people with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08 percent. It’s easy to see from Memorial Day through Independence Day and Back to School parties in August, why accidents increase due to alcohol consumption over the summer months.
All of these factors contribute to why summer is the most dangerous time in the South Carolina to drive! If you or a loved one have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Rock Hill, SC, Fort Mill, SC, or Lancaster, SC, it’s important to seek legal counsel. The personal injury lawyers at Wilkerson, Jones and Wilkerson will fight for you to get the compensation you deserve! We’re BIG enough to fight for you, but small enough to care. Call us today to speak to our attorneys Craig, Justin or Forrest for your FREE case consultation today.
Call us today at 803-324-7200 to schedule your FREE case consultation.