--- title: "Labor Day Safety Tips: How to Survive One of the Year's Most Dangerous Weekends" url: https://callsam.com/blog/labor-day-safety-tips/ description: "Labor Day is one of the deadliest U.S. travel weekends. Why fatalities spike, what Michigan’s sober-driving campaign covers, and what to do after a crash." lastModified: 2026-10-06 --- # Labor Day Safety Tips: How to Survive One of the Year's Most Dangerous Weekends Published: August 30, 2024 Labor Day weekend is a popular time for nearby gatherings or one last summer getaway. It is also one of the deadliest stretches of the year for traffic deaths. Speed limits, sobriety and putting the phone down prevent many crashes. Others still happen to careful drivers. When that happens, an experienced [Michigan car accident lawyer](https://callsam.com/case-types/car-accidents/) can help protect your rights and pursue compensation for you and your family. ## WHY DO TRAFFIC DEATHS SPIKE DURING THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND? The [National Safety Council](https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/labor-day/) estimated **434** people could die in U.S. crashes during the 2026 Labor Day period (6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7). Drunk driving, distraction, speed and extra traffic all play a part. Common reasons fatalities rise that weekend: ### Heavier traffic on Michigan roads Local get-togethers and end-of-season trips put more cars on the road, which raises crash exposure. ### More nighttime travel People stretch the long weekend into the evening. NHTSA has long reported that the passenger-vehicle fatality _rate per mile_ is about **three times higher** at night (roughly 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) than during the day, because of fatigue, alcohol, lower belt use and poorer visibility. ### More impaired drivers Holiday gatherings often include alcohol. NSC estimated that **34 percent** of fatal Labor Day traffic crashes in 2024 involved an alcohol-impaired driver. ### More distraction Crowded cars, loud conversation, eating and GPS programming pull attention off the road. ### More speeding [Cambridge Mobile Telematics](https://www.cmtelematics.com/distracted-driving/road-risk-alert-distraction-rises-8-5-percent-and-speeding-jumps-34-percent-on-labor-day/) found drivers spent **34 percent** more time speeding on Labor Day than on surrounding Mondays (based on more than 32 million trips from 2023 to 2025). ## “DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER” TARGETS IMPAIRED DRIVERS Impaired driving is a leading factor in fatal crashes in Michigan. Over Labor Day weekends from **2021 to 2025**, Michigan counted 46 driver deaths. In those crashes, **39.1 percent** of the drivers killed were alcohol- and/or drug-impaired, according to [MSP / OHSP](https://www.michigan.gov/mspnewsroom/news-releases/2026/08/13/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over-impaired-driving-enforcement-begins-august-14). To cut that risk, Michigan police join the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization from [NHTSA](https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over), USDOT and the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. The 2026 Michigan enforcement window ran **Aug. 14 through Sept. 7**. The campaign returns each year around Labor Day. In Michigan, it is illegal for a driver 21 or older to operate a vehicle with a BAC of **0.08** or higher ([MCL 257.625](https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-257-625)). The limit for drivers under 21 is **0.02**. Officers can still charge impaired driving based on observed driving even when BAC is below the per se limit. ## DOES DISTRACTED DRIVING INCREASE ON LABOR DAY? Yes. Holiday trips often mean extra passengers, food in the car and more GPS use. CMT’s 2026 analysis of 2023–2025 trips found drivers spent **8.5 percent** more time interacting with phones on Labor Day than on the Mondays before and after (about 1 minute 52 seconds per driving hour, up from 1:43). Michigan’s [handheld device ban](https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-602b) (MCL 257.602b) still applies on holiday weekends. ## WHAT TO DO (AND NOT DO) IF YOU ARE INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT Crashes happen to careful drivers too. If you or a loved one is hurt: - Call 911 if anyone needs emergency care, then call the police - Document the scene: photos of the location, damage and other vehicles - Get names, phone numbers, emails and insurance information for the other driver(s) - If no one is seriously hurt and it is safe, [move the vehicles](https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-618a) out of the travel lane (MCL 257.618a) - Do not leave the scene before exchanging information and, when police are coming, before they arrive - Do not admit fault or reconstruct the crash with the other driver - Do not say you feel “fine” - If someone asks how you are, say a doctor has to evaluate your injuries - Do not talk details with an adjuster or sign papers before you speak with a lawyer - Contact a [Michigan car accident lawyer](https://callsam.com/case-types/car-accidents/) promptly, in part because PIP notice is generally due within one year ([MCL 500.3145](https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-500-3145)) ## PUT OUR EXPERIENCED MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS TO WORK FOR YOU TODAY We want everyone to have a safe holiday weekend. If you or a loved one is injured in a Michigan crash, we can help. Our legal team has the experience and resources to pursue the compensation you deserve. Car accident law is complicated, but finding the right [Michigan car accident lawyer](https://callsam.com/case-types/car-accidents/) is simple. Don’t let the legal clock run out. Fill out the brief form below or contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. ## Related Posts ### [How Are Michigan Car Accident Lawyer Fees Determined?](https://callsam.com/blog/car-accident-lawyer-fees/) ### [Taking a Memorial Day Road Trip? How to Avoid a Car Accident on This Dangerous Driving Weekend](https://callsam.com/blog/memorial-day-car-accident/) ### [Michigan Car Seat Laws: What Every Parent Should Know](https://callsam.com/blog/michigan-car-seat-laws-what-every-parent-should-know/) ### [Michigan Has a New Flex Route Aimed at Lowering Car Accidents and Injuries](https://callsam.com/blog/flex-lane-reduces-michigan-car-accidents/) ### [Be Ghoulish… Not Foolish: Safety Tips for a Hazard-Free Halloween](https://callsam.com/blog/halloween-safety/) ### [Are Golf Carts “Street Legal” on Michigan Roads?](https://callsam.com/blog/golf-carts-legal-michigan/) ### [Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Cover Non-Resident Drivers Involved in a Car Accident?](https://callsam.com/blog/michigan-no-fault-cover-non-resident-car-accidents/) ### [The Darker Side of Daylight Saving Time: What Every Driver Should Know](https://callsam.com/blog/daylight-saving-time-car-accident/) ### [Michigan Supreme Court Allows Full Medical Benefits for Victims Injured Before No-Fault Reforms](https://callsam.com/blog/michigan-supreme-court-full-medical-benefits/) ### [New Electronic Signs on I-94 Recommend Safe Speed Limits for Winter Drivers](https://callsam.com/blog/new-billboards-michigan-recommend-speed-limits/)