Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer, is quickly approaching.  According to AAA, more than 37 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend (May 27-31). This is a 60-percent increase from 2020, when just 23 million traveled yet 13 percent less than 2019, or 6 million fewer travelers.

Memorial Day weekend is a time when the roads are traditionally packed with cars heading to the beach, a local park, or a neighbor’s house for a barbecue. Before heading out on the road, drivers should take extra precautions.

No matter how much preparation goes into a car ride, there is always a chance for a car accident, especially with heavy congestion on the roads. According to the National Coalition for Safer Roads, when it comes to car accidents, Memorial Day weekend is the most dangerous holiday. The study found that more than two million drivers in 18 states ran red lights over that weekend one year. That number is about 27 percent higher than most holiday weekends.

More cars means a higher risk of a car accident. There are several safety tips drivers can take that will help prevent them from being involved in an accident.

Allow Extra Time

Driving safely is a key element to avoiding an accident, and one way to do that is to avoid aggressive driving or speeding. Allowing for extra time for a journey takes into account potential traffic jams and other obstacles that might delay a trip. Allowing extra time means a driver may not feel compelled to speed or drive aggressively.

Automated Photo Enforcement

On busy weekends like Memorial Day, law enforcement is out in force but cannot be everywhere, especially dangerous red light intersections.  Automated photo enforcement, including red light and speed enforcement cameras, fills the void and creates safer communities. 

Want more Info on how Red Light and Speed Enforcement can help your community? Call 888-666-4218, Ext. 6 for East Coast and Ext. 7 for West Coast or [email protected]