Researchers predict that the nation faces a higher rate of serious and fatal car accidents this summer than last year. It seems that the prediction may be right. Memorial Day was the unofficial start of summer, and there were at least 7 deaths due to car crashes in New Jersey.
One of the fatal accidents took the lives of John Nash, the famed mathematician who was a Nobel Prize winner, and his wife in a 2-car collision on the New Jersey Turnpike. According to police, they were not wearing their seat belts while riding in a taxi. On the same night, a person was killed in a car accident in Gloucester Township.
Two others were also killed in a fatal crash in Millville, NJ, as well as a 20 year old man who died in a crash in New Providence, NJ. In addition to the fatal crashes, there were other non-fatal serious accidents.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) and the National Safety Council say that there will be a higher number of fatal crashes this year for several reasons.
First, gas prices are lower than last year. In fact, gas prices are at the lowest national average since 2009. On June 8, 2015, gas prices averaged $2.75 per gallon; while last year’s national average gas price on the same date was 90 cents higher at $3.65 per gallon.
With lower gas prices, more families can afford to drive and travel for weekend getaways, visiting family, etc.
Second, the summer season this year has 15 weeks instead of 14 weeks. Thus, more time in the summer means more motorists and families will travel, and the risk of car crashes will go up in the nation, including New Jersey.
Lastly, with the harsh winter many states had, including New Jersey, many people want to get away and take road trips.
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Philip T. Ciprietti, Esq. has been a personal injury lawyer for over 40 years. He has been approved by the courts as an Arbitrator for Superior Court Arbitrations in Camden and Burlington counties.
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Sources:
- newsroom.aaa.com (Gas Prices Steady As Summer Driving Season Gets Underway)
- pix11.com (Death toll climbs to 7 for Memorial Day weekend drivers)
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