Safe Travel Reminders for Labor Day Holiday Weekend

Posted on August 28th, 2018 by Zane Cagle

Experts Recommend a Focus on Safety for a Happy Holiday

Missouri State Highway Patrol issued a safety message for Missouri drivers and boaters. Troopers encourage personal responsibility and safety at the forefront of your plans for the 2018 Labor Day Weekend celebration. Labor Day is usually considered one of the last official summer weekends before kids return to school and we become passionate about football! But, Labor Day weekend can be dangerous for those on the roadways involving motor vehicle collisions and boating accidents

While Labor Day has nothing to do with picnics and being the “official last weekend of summer”, it is the last official weekend of summer because if falls on the first Monday in September. In the Midwest, it marks the end of summer. However, Labor Day is really about recognizing the social and economic achievements of American workers. It so happens that it is a great reason for American workers everywhere to take the day off and celebrate. This celebration of long weekends also happens over Memorial Day weekend as well.

This article is not to agonize over the meaning of the holiday but rather to remind you of the safety measures you should take no matter when you travel. Holiday weekends see an increase in traffic and an increase in those celebrating with alcohol, thus plan accordingly.

Missouri Labor Day Weekend 2017

Over the Labor Day holiday in 2017, 11 people died and 265 were injured in 941 traffic crashes. On average, a person was killed or injured every 12.4 minutes over that weekend. Troopers also arrested 142 people for driving while intoxicated during the holiday weekend last year. The number of drunk driving incidents usually increases as well as motor vehicle crashes, motorcycle crashes, and wrongful deaths.

Buckle Up

Make sure that everyone is properly restrained in the car. Countless times over the summer, fatalities occur way too often. Just yesterday, two young St. Louis men were killed in a head-on car crash south of Warrensburg, Missouri. The young men, age 19 and 24 died after their Buick crossed the center line and hit a pickup head-on while on Missouri Highway 13 around 4 p.m. Neither of the young men were wearing seatbelts. Head-on collisions are usually the most dangerous. The 82 year-old man driving the pick-up was wearing a seat belt and was reported as having minor injuries.

Be sure children are properly restrained, no matter how short your trip is going to be. Even if you are only traveling a few blocks to the grocery store, buckle up and be sure children are properly restrained in their child-safety seat.

Drive Sober

Holiday weekends involve celebrating and usually celebrating involves alcohol. The purpose of our articles is never to tell you that you cannot partake of alcohol. In most celebrations, that would be a silly recommendation. However, we do advocate that you have a plan! If you are traveling, make sure you have a sober driver or make some alternative transportation. If you are on the water, make sure the driver of the boat has not been driving.

Clarification– The “designated driver” should not be the person who has “had the least to drink”. Instead, the “designated driver” must be the person who has had nothing to drink! Someone has to take the responsible role for the team or you must have a plan for how you will get back to your hotel or home—wherever your destination. Planning a safe ride home should be a critical part of your party plan!

Be Safe this Weekend by Driving Safe and Planning Ahead

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle incident, then you will need an attorney. If you are injured, you do not want to negotiate with the insurance companies alone. Check out our list of Five Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident.

Asking questions is free. I speak daily with individuals involved in motor vehicle crashes. Not everyone in a car accident needs an attorney. We are happy to walk you through the points of consideration to see if you need an attorney and give you information to resolve your claim if you are not hurt.