Are you hitting the road this long weekend to see friends and family, or to visit loved ones’ gravesites? You’re not alone. AAA predicts a record-breaking 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period.
But work out your trip logistics before you go. A crash is 20 times more likely when you’re texting, so don’t let it be the reason you or someone else needs a cemetery plot prematurely.
At a time when we also pay tribute to our nation’s brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, Memorial Day weekend should be a time of reflection, remembrance, and relaxation. But the reality is it’s one of the deadliest weekends on our nation’s roads. Phone distractions are a leading risk. A recent study found that we’re still treating our vehicles like phone booths while enroute to our destinations:
- 48% of kids ages 12-17 reported being in a car while the driver was texting.
- 27% of adults admitted to sending or receiving text messages while driving.
This weekend, you can respect the dearly departed without ignoring the living. Return that text and confirm those plans, but do it when you’re in “Park” or put your phone away. The road is no place for a memorial to poor choices.
In 2025, in Iowa, 85 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of five since last Friday. In Iowa in 2024, there were 356 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, visit the daily fatality report.