"80% of Drivers Confess to Hazardous Behavior: The Shocking Truth"

Reducing Accident Risks During Labor Day Weekend Travel

As the unofficial close to summer, Labor Day weekend offers one last chance for recreation before the familiar rhythms of fall take over. But if you’re hitting the road, near or far, holiday travel can come with an increased accident risk. The National Safety Council warns that an estimated 424 people “may die in preventable traffic crashes during the 2025 Labor Day holiday period.”

The Importance of Avoiding Distracted Driving

One simple way to reduce your chances of being in an accident is to avoid distracted driving. According to a 2023 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 29% of all motor vehicle accidents happen because of distracted driving, resulting in more than 10,000 deaths every year, as well as 1.3 million injuries.

Dangerously Common Behavior

Driving while distracted is dangerously common. Survey results recently released from State Farm show concerning trends:

• Nearly one-third of drivers (29%) admit to checking their phones or interacting with technology inside a car due to “boredom during long drives,” including on busy holiday weekends.
• Nearly 80% of the survey participants said they engage in at least one distracting task during driving. This included but may not have been limited to reading or sending emails or text messages, looking at social media, recording or watching videos, and more. Further, many admitted their awareness that those activities “were distracting and likely to increase crash risk.”
• The survey also found 67% of participants believe they could safely take their eyes off the road “for two seconds or longer to focus on non-driving tasks.” But that’s way more dangerous than they might think: a 2010 NHTSA report found that taking your eyes off the road for two seconds or longer could double your risk of getting in an accident.

Safe Driving Tips

So don’t forget to keep your hands on the wheel, and off your phone, when you drive. One bonus tip before you hit the road: AAA recommends heading out earlier if possible, and avoiding midday travel, to hopefully spend less time in your car and more time at your destination, and to get there safely, no matter when you arrive.

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