The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that over 460 people may die on the roads during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.
This year’s holiday fatality estimate is 19 percent higher than the 2020 Labor Day estimate of 390. This follows a year with increased motor vehicle fatality rates across the country. To help reduce risk, the NSC is urging all Americans to proactively maintain the condition of their vehicles and practice safe driving.
“During this late-summer season, Americans will be driving at an increased rate, so it’s important to make sure the vehicle you’re driving is as safe as possible,” said Mark Chung, Vice President, Roadway Practice, at NSC. “We encourage everyone to take two minutes this week to check their vehicles for recalls. You may not know if you and your loved ones are at risk until you check.”
In the United States, over 50 million vehicles have unrepaired safety recalls, and many of those recalls involve defective parts that can pose serious risks to drivers or passengers.
Any vehicle owner can learn whether they have an open recall by visiting CheckToProtect.org and entering their license plate or 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number found on the driver’s side dash, inside the driver’s door, on registration documents or on one’s insurance card. Another option for vehicle owners is to text “RECALL” to 99724 – or, for Spanish speakers, text “REVISA” to 99724 – and snap a picture of the license plate when prompted.
