Contact: Shane Austin
saustin@saferoads.org
202.425.2776
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on Labor Day Travel and Actions Needed to Save Lives and Reduce Injuries on Roadways
(Washington, D.C. | August 27, 2025) Americans are expected to enjoy one last summer road trip in droves over Labor Day Weekend. While these excursions can make for fun memories with families and friends, travelers should be aware of the risk of traffic crashes, especially from alcohol-impaired drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 30 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2023 in the U.S. (12,429) involved at least one driver who was alcohol impaired. Over Labor Day weekend that same year, it grew to 36 percent.
The deaths and injuries caused by drunk driving are completely unacceptable and entirely preventable. We have tools at our disposal that can be used now to reduce these tragedies. For instance, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that state laws requiring ignition interlock devices (IIDs) for all impaired-driving offenders reduce the number of drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent involved in fatal crashes by 26 percent, compared with no interlock law.
As a timely example, California is currently considering legislation to upgrade the current IID law and require the use of IIDs by all convicted drunk drivers, including first time offenders. We urge the legislature to advance this proven solution without delay.
On the federal level, the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) compelled NHTSA to issue a rule requiring impaired driving prevention technology to be installed on all new vehicles. IIHS estimates more than 10,000 lives per year could be saved once these systems are widely deployed. The law required a Final Rule issued by November 2024, which is nearly a year overdue.
As outlined in our 2025 Roadmap to Safety report, seat belt non-use, distraction, speeding and red light running are some of the other major factors contributing to crashes. Here are additional actions that should be taken now to prevent crashes and save lives all year round.
All states should:
- Adopt primary enforcement all-occupant seat belt laws:
- Based on known restraint use, nearly 49 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2023 were unrestrained.
- Seat belt use is higher in states with primary enforcement laws compared to those with secondary enforcement laws or with no seat belt use law.
- Rear seat belt use by passengers in fatal crashes was lower than front seat belt use in almost every state and was substantially lower in many states.
- Enact comprehensive laws to deter distracted driving:
- As technology on mobile devices has developed to include other electronic communications and uses such as video chatting, streaming, posting to social media and “apps,” states have enhanced their texting ban laws by prohibiting these and other distracting electronic communications and uses while driving. Yet, many improvements are still needed.
- Permit and put into use automated enforcement (AE) technologies:
- Speed safety cameras alone resulted in a 19 percent reduction in the likelihood that a crash resulted in a fatal or incapacitating injury.
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that red light cameras reduced fatal red light running crashes by 14 percent and all fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 21percent.
Click here to see how your state rates on the enactment of 18 laws and countermeasures critical to reducing motor vehicle fatalities and injuries.
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About Advocates
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, medical, public health, law enforcement and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to make America’s roads safer. Advocates’ mission is the adoption of federal and state laws, policies and programs that prevent motor vehicle crashes, save lives, reduce injuries, and contain costs.