5 Surprising Reasons Car Accident Fatalities Are Highest in the Summer
It comes as a shock to many that summer actually has a higher risk of fatal car accidents than winter. In fact, the summer months have 29 percent more car accident deaths than winter months (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)! How is this possible with all the rain, snow and ice that lines the road in the winter months? There are several reasons that traffic deaths increase in the summer; we’re going to take a look at the top five today.
5 Surprising Reasons Car Accident Fatalities Are Highest in the Summer
- School’s out for summer!
By definition, high school drivers are the most inexperienced drivers on the road. Combine inexperience with the poor judgement that can come with a developing brain and it’s a recipe for car accidents. In the summer, high school students are not in school so that means they are more likely to be driving to see friends or to summer jobs. Studies consistently show that teens have a higher rate of crashes than adults and motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 20.
- Increase in construction zones
In the Pacific Northwest, summer is the best time for road construction. With roads closed off or inhibited with road crew and obstacles, the risk of car accidents increases. Speeding and distracted driving in work zones are the leading causes of fatal accidents. According to FHWA, between 2018 and 2019, fatal crashes in work zones increased by 11 percent while fatal crashes outside of work zones dropped by two percent.
- Warm days and holidays mean more drinking and driving
Drinking and driving remains one of the leading causes of fatal collisions in the United States. With summer comes relaxing days by the pool or beach, vacation days and two holidays that often involve drinking: the 4th of July and Labor Day. Unfortunately, increased drinking means more drinking and driving and that translates to more fatal crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there is almost twice the number of alcohol-related deaths during the summer than in all the other months of the year combined!
- More cyclists and motorcyclists on the road
The warmer, drier weather that comes with summertime in the Pacific Northwest translates to a huge increase of cyclists and motorcyclists on the road. According to injuryfacts.nsc.org, bicycle-related deaths peak in the summer months, starting in June, and remain high through September. Out of 1,089 bicyclist deaths in 2019, 712 died in motor-vehicle accidents.
Motorcycle fatalities also peak in the summer months. In 2018 alone, 4,985 motorcyclists died in U.S. crashes. July 4 is the deadliest day of the year for motorcyclists.
- Tire blowouts
Tire blowouts increase in the summertime because heat causes the air inside the tire to expand, making worn tires extremely vulnerable. Tire blowouts are dangerous because they can cause a vehicle to spiral out of control or come to a halt, leaving them in danger of being crashed into. Making matters worse, tire blowouts are the most likely to happen on highways where vehicles are traveling at higher speeds. (Higher speeds mean increased risk of fatal crashes.)
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
