Independence Day is Last Day for Many Drivers in America
It may come as a shock to many people that a holiday celebrating a country's freedom is also the deadliest day of the year for drivers in the U.S. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), more than 670 people were killed on July 4 from 2007-2011, or an average of 134 deaths on that day each year.
Young people are at the highest risk as car crashes top the list of death causes for people aged 1-34. Teens are particularly vulnerable and tend to crash four times more than any other age group. The age group accounted for six percent of driving fatalities on July 4; distraction seems to be one of the main reasons. Mobile phones play a part, as research from The Allstate Foundation found that 75 percent of teens admit they find reading and responding to texts distracting behind-the-wheel, an increase on the 49 percent reported by teens in 2009.
"Putting down the phone, never texting while driving and always wearing a safety belt can help make sure that everyone returns home safely after their Independence Day celebrations," says Sanjay Gupta, executive vice president of marketing, innovation and corporate relations at Allstate."It's great to see that teens are evolving in their behavior and perceptions around texting, but our research still found that 39 percent of teen drivers admit to texting behind the wheel and six percent say they do it a lot. This demonstrates the need for programs that educate about the dangers of distracted driving."
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Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade. He is also a happy herbivore.
