August 2 is the most dangerous day for car wrecks

It is not New Years Eve or July 4th. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the most dangerous day of the year to drive is August 2. This calculation is based on the fact that the highest number of motor vehicle related deaths (505) on one specific day occurred on August 2 from 2012 to 2016. Similarly, August is also the most dangerous month of the year to drive with 15,914 fatalities during that same period of years. This will be a revelation for nearly everyone.

Drivers simply let down their guard

The day does not involve drunken driving by revelers, nor does August have icy roads. Why is this seemingly random day so dangerous? Moreover, what makes August so lethal? According to a researcher at the IIHS, “In the summer, the weather is nice, sunny, and people just are a little more reckless, they’re a little less careful.”

The roads are busierWhile Thanksgiving and Christmas are synonymous with long lines at airports, August is actually the month when families or groups traditionally do a summer road trip, with the first week of the month as particularly popular one for vacations. This volume of vacationers puts more folks on the road, which in turn increases the chances for an injury or a fatality.

Careful out there

The takeaway here is that the biggest threat to your safety is that people let down their guard. Devices, kids or the scenery may distract them. Therefore, regardless of time of year, it is important to exercise caution for the safety of yourself and your loved ones as well as others on the road.

If you are involved in an accident caused by another driver and it involves serious injury or death, it is crucial to seek medical help immediately. It is also wise to contact a lawyer with experience handling motor vehicle accidents for wrongful death suits. They can help you get the compensation you and loved ones deserve.