Auto Club: Labor Day Weekend is One of the Deadliest Holidays for Alcohol-Related Crashes; Last Weekend of Summer Ranks High for Fatal and Injury Crashes

LOS ANGELES--Sept. 2, 2004--The Labor Day holiday weekend, traditionally the end of summer vacation, also is one of the deadliest periods for drinking and driving, according to a study by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The analysis of California data for 1994-2002 measured the rate of increase of alcohol-related crashes resulting in deaths and injuries. It is the first comparative study to be completed on the subject of holiday drinking and driving.

The Auto Club examined 10 national holiday periods and four special occasions. The special occasions are Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo and Halloween. These periods are often regarded as the ones with the highest rates of drinking and driving. When comparing alcohol-related crashes that result in death or injury to all crashes over the holidays and special occasions, the Labor Day weekend ranked as the third most dangerous in terms of the rate of daytime crashes and fifth most dangerous for nighttime crashes.

"The Labor Day holiday weekend showed a significant increase in the proportion of daytime and nighttime crashes involving alcohol throughout the nine years we analyzed," said study author Steven Bloch, Ph.D., senior research associate for the Auto Club. "We see a 22 percent increase during the day and a 19 percent increase at night compared to other weekend periods in September. This indicates that when people go out on Labor Day they often include alcohol in activities such as backyard cookouts, trips to the park or to the beach, and then they drive home after drinking."

The New Year's period was the most dangerous in terms of the proportion of alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes with a 148 percent increase during the day and 100 percent increase at night. Christmas and Super Bowl Sunday also ranked among the top five periods for the increased rates of drinking and driving. Halloween and Columbus Day showed little or no increased danger in terms of the rate of alcohol-related crashes.

Alcohol-related crash statistics for Labor Day are consistent with generally higher rates of drinking and driving during the other summertime holidays, Memorial Day and Independence Day.

"On Memorial Day, we observe a 20 percent increase in the rate of nighttime crashes, but no significant increase during the day. However, on the Fourth of July, the rate of nighttime crashes increased 55 percent while the rate of daytime crashes was up 21 percent," Bloch said.

All data analyzed in the study were controlled statistically for the day of the week and month of the year in which crashes occurred.

The Auto Club advises that motorists can keep themselves and others safe and can avoid DUI crashes by keeping these safety tips in mind:

-- At social events, designate non-drinking drivers who can get everyone home safely.

-- Call a friend or family member for a ride if you have been drinking.

-- Keep a cab company telephone number in your wallet so you can call for a ride home.

-- As a party host, offer a variety of non-alcoholic drink alternatives and provide a gift to guests who volunteer to be designated drivers.

-- Take the car keys away from friends and relatives who have had too much to drink.

The study, titled "Time to Party: a Comparative Analysis of Holiday Drinking and Driving," is available from the Auto Club.

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, and automotive pricing, buying and financing programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.