The holidays are a time when most families and friends travel to different cities and states to spend time with their loved ones. While the festivities are exciting, commuting from point A to point B is never the best part due to hectic traffic conditions. Because of this high volume of traffic, many accidents occur during this time of year. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that in 2012, 764 car crashes occurred on Thanksgiving alone, making it the deadliest holiday of them all.
While you can’t control the driving behavior of others, there is plenty you can do to keep yourself, your family, and others safe during your trip.
Consider these holiday safe driving tips:
- Don’t drive when sleepy. Driving while fatigued is extremely dangerous. While you might not fall asleep at the wheel, your mind may not be fully alert, which may not allow you to make the appropriate driving maneuvers when necessary. If you plan to travel during late hours to avoid heavy traffic and begin to feel sleepy, pull over into a safe area and take a brief nap before driving again.
- Eliminate behind-the-wheel distractions. Distracted driving is a year-round hazard, but it is especially important to remember around the holidays when there is more traffic on the road than usual. Refrain from distracting activities like eating, using your smart phone, grooming, or reading maps while you are driving. By minimizing distractions, there will be less chance that your attention will wander dangerously away from the road.
- Avoid the hours with the most traffic congestion. Driving during busy hours may not seem dangerous due to the slower movement of vehicles; however, many patients grow impatient and weave in and out traffic in hopes of reaching their destinations faster. These reckless drivers pose serious dangers to all drivers sharing the road. As a result, it is best to travel during times when traffic is not as congested.
- Make sure your passengers are wearing their seatbelts correctly. Oftentimes, passengers grow restless during long car rides. In many cases, restless passengers will move their seatbelt to improper positions. However, in the course of a car accident, a person who is wearing their seatbelt inappropriately can face severe injuries. During your Thanksgiving car ride, ensure all passengers are wearing their seatbelt properly for the entire duration of the drive.
- Never drink and drive. Alcohol-related accidents skyrocket around the holidays due to celebrations that involve the consumption of alcohol. If your holiday plans involve eggnog, champagne, or other festive drinks, make sure you don’t drive!
- Avoid pressured driving. Many people place pressure on themselves to reach their destination as soon as possible, and with so much traffic on the roads, it can be difficult not to give in to frustration and impatience. However, it is not worth compromising your safety, your family’s safety, or the safety of others on the road by driving aggressively or speeding. The last thing you want is for your holiday to be ruined by a car accident, so remember to play it safe and realize that it is better to arrive at your destination late than not at all.
Have You Been Injured in a Houston Car Accident?
If you have sustained injuries as the result of a car accident at any time, including Thanksgiving weekend, our Houston car accident lawyers at Stern Law Group can provide relentless representation. When you become our client, we can examine your case and determine who should be held responsible for you injuries.
Contact our team without delay. Our Houston car accident attorneys are available 24/7 to take your call.