According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics going back 45 years, the deadliest months of the year, for drivers and pedestrians alike, have been the “vacation months” — July through October. Of the year’s four deadliest holiday weekends, three occur in summer, and the fatal crashes involve higher-than-average numbers of alcohol-impaired drivers. Here, for example, were the nationwide statistics for 2019:
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Labor Day Weekend — 390 killed, 38% of the involved driver’s alcohol-impaired;
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Memorial Day Weekend — 366 killed, 37% of involved drivers impaired;
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Fourth of July Weekend — 405 killed, 40% of involved drivers impaired.
(For comparison, the overall rate of alcohol-impaired-driver-related fatalities was 28%)