The National Safety Council released its estimates of fatalities from traffic crashes for Independence Day weekend which begins today, July 3, at 6 p.m. and ends at 11:59 p.m. on July 7.

The Council said that 540 fatalities and another 57,800 injuries may occur due to motor vehicle collisions.

Click here to read more about what you can do during the holiday season and how to properly handle fireworks.

It's not all bad news however, 196 lives may be saved during the holiday weekend if people just wear their seat belts.

The holiday weekend is also a dangerous time for teens, as eight to 13 teens die in the U.S. every year during that time period according to AOL Autos.

Some other safety tips people should consider while driving include:

-not using cell phones

-putting your phone on silent or in the glove box

-pull over and put your vehicle in park to make or take a phone call

-make sure every passenger is wearing his or her safety belt

-never leave a child or pet unattended, especially during hot days

-designate a non-drinking driver if you plan on drinking

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