According to TripAdvisor, 30 percent of local residents plan on hitting the open road and venturing out for Labor Day vacation. There will also be a large number of tourists that will be visiting our area making this their Labor Day weekend vacation spot.
The increase in traffic increases everyone's chance for a Washington D.C. car accident.
Our Maryland car accident attorneys understand that all of these travelers may be left to deal with some of the damage from Hurricane Irene. But add in the drop in gas prices and the holiday weekend, and we're bound the see some busy roadways. AAA predicts that there will be more than 27 million Americans traveling more than 50 miles by vehicle this upcoming holiday weekend. The recent spike in airlines tickets will also be contributing to the increased number of four-wheeled travelers. Airfares are more than 10 percent higher than they were during this time last year. Even worse, airlines are adding more fees to their ticket prices.
The number of roadway travelers could increase even more if gas prices drop even lower because of lower crude-oil prices. AAA is forecasting the average traveling distance for vacationers to be slightly over 600 miles with an average cost of about $700.
Still, drivers over the Labor Day weekend will be trying to conserve fuel to save money, according to PEMCO Insurance.
The insurance company estimates that about 80 percent of travelers will be cautious of their driving techniques over the holiday weekend. A number of drivers say they will be cautious of how fast they accelerate and how hard they brake. Another 60 percent said that they will be checking their tire pressure periodically to make sure they're getting the maximum fuel mileage possible. Another 40 percent of drivers say that they're going to lighten the load by leaving the extra cargo at home. Regardless, drivers in unfamiliar places prove to be road hazards.
Many residents will even be staying local and enjoying some of the great Labor Day events in Washington D.C. over the holiday weekend.
Labor Day weekend isn't only a time for an increase in vacationer traffic, but it's also a time when we see more drunk drivers on our roadways. Many locals use this time for one more summertime bash. In 2009, there were nearly 600 deaths because of traffic accidents that involved an intoxicated driver over Labor Day.
You can help to save some lives on the roadways of Maryland. If you think you see an intoxicated driver, you're urged to call #77 to alert law enforcement.
Whether you're staying local or you're heading out of the area for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, you're asked to be on the lookout for dangerous drivers on roadways across the nation. As more people will be traveling on the roadway during the time, your risks for a car accident are greatly increased. Please enjoy your weekend, driving cautiously and return home safely.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Washington D.C. or Maryland, call The Kaiser Law Firm PLLC at (202) 640-2850.
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