Memorial Day 2015

Long weekends are always a time for family and friends to come together and enjoy one another. This coming weekend many of us may be planning a backyard barbeque, a day on the lake or even some time at the local park. Therefore, whether you are at home or away, it is good to be proactive when it comes to safety.

If you are hitting the road, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has urged drivers to be extra cautious during Memorial Day weekend. This is due to the increase in accidents and fatalities over the years. Data collected by the NHTSA showed that there were 377 crash related fatalities during the Memorial Day holiday in 2012 alone. The NHTSA has released some tips to consumers for safer driving during the holiday:

• Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. – Everybody aboard must agree to wear their seatbelts every time they are riding or driving in your vehicle. Wearing a seatbelt is also the best defense against a drunk-driving related crash. For more information on seatbelt safety please click here.

• Don't Drive After Drinking – Drunk driving deaths spike during the holidays. Every 51 minutes, someone in the United States dies in an alcohol-impaired-driving crash. Be responsible – don’t drink and drive. If you plan to drink, choose a sober designated driver before going out. For more information on NHTSA Drunk Driving prevention efforts click here.

• Check your Tire’s Air Pressure, Tread Wear, and Spare – The NHTSA recently launched its TireWise campaign to provide consumers and retailers with essential information about choosing and caring for tires. Proper tire maintenance is especially important if traveling by 15-Passenger Van. Please click here for additional information on 15-Passenger Van safety.

• Keep Children Safe In and Around Your Vehicle – Make sure car seats and booster seats are properly installed and that any children riding with you are in the car seat or booster seat best suited to protect them. Other dangers to children in and around cars that you should consider include hyperthermia and heat stroke, from being left unattended in a cold or hot vehicle. Visit www.safercar.gov/parents to find out more about how to keep children safe while in and around your vehicle.

For those families staying close to home or joining a neighborhood party, it is always important to think about the safety of your home. First Safety USA has reported an increase in home invasions during the summer months and even more so during long, holiday weekends. When traffic increases in the neighborhood and trusting owners leave their doors unlocked, they can pay the price by having a burglar enter. First Safety USA has also provided tips to those staying close to home over the Memorial Day weekend—some of which you may have not considered:

1. All valuables are out of sight and away from windows and doors
2. You've set light timers for different rooms in your home
3. Bushes and trees are cut back from windows and doors
4. You've securely locked all windows and doors
5. Neighbors know you will be gone this weekend

Whether you are traveling or enjoying a weekend around the neighborhood, please take extra steps in protecting your family. From Kaine Law, we wish you a very safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!!