100 Deadliest Days
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the “100 deadliest days” on the roads. During this time, fatal crashes nearly double compared to the rest of the year. It’s a tragic trend both in Idaho and across the nation.
The three most common factors in Idaho motor vehicle crashes are aggressive, distracted, and impaired driving.
- On Idaho roads in 2020, 88 people died - more than 40% of the entire year’s fatalities
- On Idaho roads in 2021, there were 92 fatalities
- 73 Automobile - of these, 31 were not wearing seat belts
- 15 Motorcycle
- 3 Other (ATV/UTV)
- 1 Pedestrian
- Failure to maintain a lane was a contributing factor in 17 fatalities
- 6 fatalities involved inattentive driving
- In June, July and August of 2021, data shows there were nearly 12,000 deaths on U.S. roadways. More than half of those killed in crashes were someone other than the driver
- Federal statistics have shown that, nationwide, traffic fatalities reached a 16-year high in 2021 across all age brackets, according to AAA - a 10% increase in fatalities from 2020. AAA estimates that 2022 may also see an increase
Each year, AAA warns of the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers, but this year the company warns data has shown the first days of the summer months could be just as dangerous for all drivers.
"Speeding is up, seat belt use is down, and driver impairment and multiple other factors contributed to more than 42,000 fatalities last year," said Mike Belcuore, manager of AAA Driver Education, in a press release. "We know that fatal crashes involving teen drivers nearly double in summer months as compared to the rest of the year, but this summer, AAA is concerned that the 'deadliest days' may refer to increased risk for everyone."
What can you do to keep you and your family safe this summer?
- Buckle up
- Pay attention
- Wear a helmet when on a motorcycle, dirt bike, or bicycle
- Stay off the phone – Do Not Disturb while driving
- Stay rested
- Stay sober
- Obey the speed limit
- Beware in construction zones
So, what makes these months so deadly?
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More time on the road. We log drivetime more for work and on our off time. Vacations, day trips, family activities and many other occasions we are more willing to get in our vehicles and drive.
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Speeding. With the better road conditions (compared to winter) most of us tend to drive faster than we should. We are often in a hurry and do not realize or consider the possible consequences.
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Driving at night. Nighttime driving plays a significant role in increased accidents.
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Distracted driving. Cell phones are responsible for 24,000 injuries and 995 deaths per year . Distraction is considered a factor in 60% of teen-involved crashes. That includes distractions by passengers in the car, looking at the speedometer too long, talking on the phone and texting. Distracted teens are less likely to notice stop signs and often are not focused on what is happening around them.
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Traffic congestion. Whether you are heading across country for a family vacation or are just traveling a couple of hours to spend a day at a theme park, you will have plenty of company on the roads. More cars are on the road during these months than any other time of the year, and with that comes the increased likelihood of crashes. Traffic jams may cause drivers to make unsafe moves, such as abruptly changing lanes or driving on the shoulder of the road.
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Construction. Summer is a prime time for construction on roadways, and that means closed lanes and slowed traffic. Even if you are familiar with the route, roads may be redirected temporarily to accommodate for the construction, which can lead to confusion and, unfortunately, crashes.
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Increased alcohol use. Alcohol-related crashes increase during summer months, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and they spike even higher on the Fourth of July. On the weekends, the number of crashes related to alcohol more than doubles, and the rate of alcohol-impaired drivers is four times higher at night than during the day.
Accident & Injury Reporting
As summer arrives more employees are heading out to the field, fighting fires, and driving more, it's important to know what to do in the case of a workplace accident, injury or vehicle accident.
On June 2nd, a micro learning was presented to IDL employees to provide guidance on what to do for workplace accident, injury, near miss, and vehicle accidents.
Below are links accessing the information delivered and to the Safety Sharepoint site with all of the forms, policies, and procedures needed.
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