DECEMBER 29, 2011

Safety driving tips for the holiday

CHICAGO – The Traffic Safety Coalition (TSC) is encouraging motorists to be mindful of actions that will make their holiday travel safer.

Stop on Red: Give yourself extra time on the roadways and obey all traffic laws. Traffic crashes are the single most significant cause of preventable death and injury in North America. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 676 people were killed and an estimated 113,000 were injured in the United States in crashes that involved red light running in 2009 alone.

Watch for pedestrians: Families may be out shopping or visiting relatives. It’s important to watch for pedestrians in crosswalks especially children and the elderly. 76,000 pedestrians have been killed while crossing or walking along a street in the last 15 years. Nearly 4,000 of them have been children since 2001.

Watch your speed: Speeding is never a good idea, especially during the holidays. If you obey the speed limits, you will still get to your family's house in plenty of time to enjoy the holiday festivities. Speeding is a dangerous behavior, killing more than 1,000 Americans every month.

Stay off the phone: Use your phone for emergencies only. The National Safety Council estimates 1.3 million crashes, or 23 percent of all crashes, involve distracted drivers using cell phones.

“Whether your traveling across country or across town, its important to obey all traffic safety laws to ensure you get to and from your family gatherings safely,” said Traffic Safety Coalition co-Chair Paul Oberhauser, whose daughter Sarah was tragically killed in 2002 when a driver ran a red light and crashed into her car. “Small changes in driving behavior and taking personal responsibility this holiday season will keep our roads safe and help save lives.”

The Traffic Safety Coalition is a not-for-profit, grassroots organization comprised of concerned citizens, traffic safety experts, law enforcement, public officials, victim's advocates, health care professionals, and industry leaders who are committed to working together to make our roads safer for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.  We work with our partners throughout the country to promote technology and education that save lives and keep our roads safe.