November 8, 2016 is an important day for all U.S. citizens, but who you vote for tomorrow should not be your only concern. With emotions high and potentially distracted and/or speeding drivers heading to the polls, tomorrow will be a dangerous day on our roads.
Going back to 1976, on average 24 more people die in car crashes and 800 others suffer serious injuries during presidential election voting hours, than on any other Tuesday in October or November, according to a 2008 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers believe there are three likely culprits.
- More people are in a hurry to get to/from their polling place. They may stop early in the morning before work, on their lunch break, or rush to get there after work before the polls close
- Voters may be taking unfamiliar routes to polling places.
- Emotions are high as many people are worried about the future of the U.S. Motorists are focusing more attention to the polls — listening to the latest election news on the radio or interacting with social media — when they should be paying attention to driving.
Voting for our next president is a big decision; the future of our society as a whole rests on the election. Before go to the polls tomorrow, I just have a few words of advice:
- VOTE! It is your civic duty.
- Before you cast your ballot, think about what kind of life you want and what kind of life you want for future generations.
- Plan ahead, view polling times, expect delays, and give yourself plenty of time to get to the polls and back.
Mark Bello is the CEO and General Counsel of Lawsuit Financial Corporation, a pro-justice lawsuit funding company.
