Tips to ensure a safer holiday weekend include:

Wear a seat belt on every trip. About 226 people are likely to survive crashes during the holiday because they buckled up.
Make sure children are restrained in safety seats that are appropriate for their height, age and weight.
Designate an alcohol and drug-free driver or arrange alternate transportation. Impairment begins with the first drink.
Get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks to avoid fatigue.
Never use a cell phone behind the wheel, even hands-free.
Don't allow teens to drive with their friends. A single young passenger can increase a teen driver's fatal crash risk 44%.
Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits.
Be aware of road conditions.
Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicles in front of you.
Learn about your vehicle's safety systems and how to use them. MyCarDoesWhat can help drivers understand the ins and outs of new technology features.
Check your vehicle for recalls. Visit ChecktoProtect.org to ensure your vehicle does not have an open recall.

Special Reports /

Car crash deaths predicted to reach nearly 600 over July 4th holiday