Drivers Warned of Serious Car Accidents in Georgia over Thanksgiving

Our North Georgia car accident attorneys wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Weekend.

Road safety is an important reminder this time of year; the National Safety Council (NSC) has predicted that more than 430 people will die in traffic accidents over the 4.25 day holiday.

For purposes of that estimate, Thanksgiving officially starts on Wednesday, November 23rd at 6:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday, November 27th at 6:00 p.m. The Council also expects more than 43,000 Americans to be injured over the weekend. Thanksgiving is one of the most dangerous holidays on our roadways.

While the 2011 fatality prediction is nearly 20 percent less than the actual fatality count average over the last six years, drivers are still urged to be extremely careful on our congested roadways. Car accidents in Georgia over the Thanksgiving weekend are an all too often and all too tragic occurrence. Drivers, be safe!

According to CNN, more Americans are expected to hit the road. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that about 43 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles for their Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This is nearly 4 percent more than the 41 million who traveled during the 2010 holiday. Increases in traffic increase risks of accidents.

Many experts credit the gas prices for the increase in travel. Last year, the average cost of a gallon of gas over the holiday weekend was $2.88. This year's average is $3.39. While this year's average is much higher, residents already forwent holiday travel earlier in the year. Memorial Day travel remained flat from 2010 while travel for Independence Day and Labor Day decreased significantly. Experts believe motorists are tossing out their financial concerns for a much needed Thanksgiving vacation.

"Driving AAA's projected increase in the number of Thanksgiving travelers is pent-up demand from Americans who may have foregone holiday travel the last three years," said Bill Sutherland, vice president of AAA Travel Services.

Driving will remain the most common form of transportation for Turkey Day getaways. Air travel is questionable. AAA is predicting that air travel will increase by about 2 percent, while the Air Transport Association of America is expecting a 2 percent decrease.

Safe driving advocates are asking drivers to be extra cautious on our roadways through the holiday. We'd like to remind all motorists to wear a seat belt at all times, regardless of how far you're traveling. In recent studies seat belts have been proven to be nearly 50 percent effective in preventing death in the event of an accident to the front-seat occupants. With these numbers, the NSC predicts that about 150 lives will be saved because of seat belts over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. If everyone were to wear a seat belt, the NSC says another 110 lives could be saved.

We would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and ask you to be alert and drive defensively on your holiday ventures.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident, contact the Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys at Casey W. Stevens Law: Alpharetta Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers. Call 877-217-7230 for a free case evaluation. Serving clients in Dawsonville, Alpharetta, and throughout North Georgia.

Additional Resources

Crowded highways expected for Thanksgiving, by Aaron Smith, CNN