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United Spinal Association Tel 718 803 3782 exts. 283 & 282
National Headquarters Fax 718 803 0414
75-20 Astoria Boulevard publicaffairs@unitedspinal.org
Jackson Heights, NY 11370-1177  

For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 17, 2007

United Spinal Association Promotes Safe Motoring This Holiday Weekend

Jackson Heights, NY––Every 13 minutes there is a motor vehicle fatality in the United States and 44% of all individuals who have sustained a spinal cord injury were injured in vehicle accidents according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Further, there are approximately three million car-related injuries per year, two million permanent injuries, and 40,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. Now with Memorial Day weekend upon us, drivers face even greater risks of alcohol-related accidents.

As part of its nationwide Motorsafe campaign to promote safe motoring and raise public awareness about spinal cord injury, United Spinal Association reminds the public that Memorial Day weekend 2005 resulted in 529 motor vehicle fatalities nationwide and 48% of those fatalities were alcohol-related.

This Memorial Day weekend, United Spinal urges the driving public to observe the following precautions:

  • Avoid driving if you’re intoxicated, tired or on medication.
  • Always wear your seat belt.
  • Obey traffic laws and speed limits.
  • Be aware of road conditions.
  • Pay attention to the road and other vehicles (i.e., don’t change the station on your radio while driving; and don’t talk or text on your cell phone or Blackberry).
  • Properly maintain your vehicle.
  • Drive defensively.


    • If you do plan to consume alcohol, or if you happen to become impaired in any way, make sure to:

  • Designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.
  • Call a taxi, use mass transit, or call a sober friend or family member to drive you home.
  • If available, take advantage of your community’s “Sober Rides” program.


    • United Spinal Association’s Motorsafe program is a nationwide public awareness campaign promoting safe motoring. The program targets all people who operate automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, motorboats, personal watercraft, and snowmobiles. Our goal is to share information and knowledge of specific hazards involved in operating these types of equipment and to highlight good practices that will prevent serious injury or even death. For more information, or to download a free Motorsafe brochure and safety tips card, please visit www.unitedspinal.org and click, Motorsafe.

    United Spinal Association is a national membership organization committed to enhancing the lives of people with spinal cord injuries or disorders. Approximately 700,000 Americans have disabilities of the spinal cord as a result of traumatic injury or multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS or other disorders. Membership in United Spinal is free and open to any individual with these disabilities, regardless of age. For more information on United Spinal Association, call 800-404-2898 or visit www.unitedspinal.org.

    This entry was posted on Thursday, May 17th, 2007 at 7:35 am and is filed under Featured, United Spinal News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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