July 4th traffic deaths, drownings show liberty needs responsibility

Posted by Bruce Westbrook

July 2, 2009

July 4th weekend is a time to celebrate America’s liberty. Yet our liberties don’t include driving while impaired, a misjudgment which claims almost one third of all traffic deaths yearly, and an even higher 40 per cent of all traffic deaths on the mid-summer holiday.

Alcohol abuse by drivers crosses all geographic and socioeconomic lines. But motorcyclists have the highest proportion of alcohol abuse of any drivers on the road, and thus more motorcyclists die in traffic accidents on Independence Day than on any other day of the year.

Indeed, July 4 is America’s worst day of the year for all traffic fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And the second-worst day? July 3. Some people can’t wait to start partying and driving.

Making matters worse this weekend is the fact that July 4 falls on a Saturday, and Saturday — in any month– is the worst day of the week for traffic fatalities.

In all, more than 300 people are expected to die on America’s roads Friday and Saturday. That’s 300 people who are alive today, but won’t be alive when many of us return to work on Monday. Instead, their families will be grieving.

The outlook for this weekend isn’t any better when it comes to one of the most popular activities on a hot summer day: frolicking in pools or natural waterways. Among those who do, many are children, and kids are less likely to have self-protective swimming skills.

Partly as a result, Texas has had 60 child drownings already this year, and exactly half of them occurred in June alone. The state is on pace to have 120 child drownings for the year, far more than the alarming new high of 82 last year.

Here’s a simple rule that’s easy enough to grasp, remember and take to heart: All children everywhere should be watched at all times while swimming. All children are not watched, and thus, tragedy ensues.

As July 4th looms, keep these things in mind and do what you can to protect yourself, your family and those around you.

By all means, enjoy the July 4th weekend and its more positive traditions: hot dogs, family gatherings, barbecues, fireworks (that are safely controlled) and recognition of America’s great history of liberty. Just remember that with liberty comes responsibility — on the roads, in the water and, in fact, everywhere.

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Jim S. Adler & Associates supports Safe Kids, and law firm founder Jim Adler is a member of the Joint City/County Commission on Children for Houston and Harris County, TX.

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