MENU
SEARCHThe National Safety Council, warning that the coming three-day weekend may become the deadliest Memorial Day holiday since 2009, offers six driving safety tips you can pass along.
If National Safety Council estimates hold, this will be the deadliest Memorial Day holiday since 2009.
If National Safety Council estimates hold, this will be the deadliest Memorial Day holiday since 2009.
About 439 people will die and another 50,500 will suffer serious injuries in vehicle crashes during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to the National Safety Council.
If the estimate holds, this will be the deadliest Memorial Day holiday since 2009, when 462 Americans were killed on the nation’s roadways, according to federal data.
The estimate comes as traffic fatalities continue to trend upward. In February, the council released preliminary estimates showing motor vehicle fatalities had increased 8% in 2015 compared to 2014 — the largest year-over-year percentage increase in 50 years. Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer, which is always a dangerous time on the roads. More than 9,570 people died on U.S. roads in 2014 from May 24 and Aug. 31.
“As Americans gear up for the most carefree months of the year, we cannot take our safety for granted,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, the council's president and CEO. “Driving is one of the riskiest things we do every day. Engaging our defensive driving skills and staying alert can mean the difference between attending cookouts and family parties or spending the evening at the emergency room or worse.”
The council attributes the spike in fatal car crashes partly to an improving economy with lower gas prices and lower unemployment rates. Certain crash factors, such as speeding and alcohol, are also more common during the summer.
The National Safety Council estimates that 104 people could be saved this Memorial Day holiday if they buckle up. Photo courtesy of NHTSA.
To help stay safe on the roads this summer, the council recommends:
Make sure passengers buckle up for every trip. The council estimates 104 people could be saved this Memorial Day holiday if they buckle up.
Designate an alcohol- and drug-free driver or arranging alternate transportation
Get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks to avoid fatigue on long trips
Never use a cell phone behind the wheel even hands-free.
Stay engaged with your teens’ driving habits. An NSC survey found many parents are more inclined to loosen household driving rules during the summer.
Learn about vehicle safety systems and how to use them. NSC’s online tool MyCarDoesWhat? can help drivers understand the ins and outs of features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning systems, and backup cameras.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Read More →
What fleets capture to improve safety can also expose them in litigation, forcing leaders to rethink how data is managed, stored, and shared.
Read More →
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Read More →
While serious crashes are declining, a rise in minor incidents and ongoing risk hotspots underscore the need for continued fleet safety investment.
Read More →
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
Read More →
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
Read More →
More people on foot means more risk for drivers. These pedestrian safety tips can help prevent serious injuries and keep everyone safer on the road.
Read More →
Safer crews. Fewer incidents. Better uptime. Learn how driver-assist technology is changing the way vocational fleets operate.
Read More →
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.
Read More →
