Safety for All
Holiday Safety for All
The 4th of July is one of the most celebrated holidays with both family and friends getting together, grilling, camping, or involving fireworks. We all have heard the burn ban and no fireworks story too many times. We may not like it but nearly everyone I have spoken with respects the inherited dangers due to the excessive heat and drought and have altered their plans to be compliant.
All motorists should know and understand how traffic statistics can help us arrive safely. One disturbing number is the level of Traffic Fatalities this year to July 01, 2012 which stands at 392 people in Missouri being killed on our roadways. This figure is up 19% from the same time period last year where the number was 329. Either way the figure is too high.
Statistics show the safest highways to drive on are U.S. Interstates due to their design of limited access, divided roadway, and enforcement which provides for the safest percentages for all traffic crashes.
Other factors to look at for roadway safety include divided highways versus 2 lane roads. If you think about every vehicle you meet on a 2 lane road or highway, give consideration at to actually how short of a distance you are from a violent head on collision. These types of crashes are extremely dangerous and have a very high percentage of injury or death.
The unknown factors are how many drivers are impaired by alcohol and/or drugs in addition to how many are distracted due to cell phones, other devices, or other things going on in the vehicle which pose significant danger to everyone on the roadway?
Give not only yourself but also your family and friends the respect and best chance of safely arriving at your destinations. Use all information and the percentages to help plan your route for every trip. Often times we do not need to worry about ourselves, but the other drivers. Be a defensive, wise, and safe driver when behind the wheel and help every family to enjoy each day they have.
Respectfully,
Steve Cox