From celebrating with family to getting together with friends, the holidays are one of the best times of the year. With all the excitement going on, it’s extra important to keep safety in mind. As we approach the holiday season, more people are behind the wheel than usual and have more distractions at their disposal. It should be noted that, although other holidays like Fourth of July weekend have the highest number of fatal crashes every year, winter holiday traffic poses its own dangers.
Traveling with family during the holidays can pose many dangers, including car crashes. Approximately 25,000 people were killed in collisions between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day in 2021, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data.
On the actual day of a holiday, the number of crashes declines slightly, but during the days surrounding the holiday, more vehicles crowd the roads. Beginning around Halloween, more drivers will be on the road, whether they are on their way to the mall, going to see family, or attending a holiday party so it is imperative that drivers watch out for driving hazards. Many drivers are forced to spend their holidays seeking the services of car accident lawyer to assist them in recouping damages for their car accident injuries. While it’s not always preventable, it’s important to implement the following safety tips for driving in holiday traffic to reduce the stress of driving during the holiday season.
Don’t Speed
Drivers should make sure to allow themselves ample time to react to traffic around them, as well as to get to their destination on time. For every 1% increase in speed, the risk of a driver being involved in an accident increases by 2%, the risk of being seriously injured by 3%, and the risk of dying by about 4%.
Refrain From Using Cellphones
Holiday drivers should choose to place their phones in the backseats or on consoles where they cannot see them while stopped. Using the phone while driving is never a good idea, and drivers should never use it if they have children with them.
Don’t Drink & Drive
As the attorneys at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk can attest, the number of DUI charges over the holidays increases exponentially, and hundreds of thousands are affected every year by drinking and driving. Whenever a driver intends to consume alcohol at a family gathering or holiday party, they should make sure they have a designated driver or use a ridesharing service such as Uber or Lyft.
Wear A Seatbelt
Wearing a seatbelt is one of the most important aspects of ensuring safety during the holiday season. While many drivers practice proper safety and give proper duty of care to other vehicles on the road, drivers cannot trust other drivers on the road not to cause an accident involving them. Seatbelts are one of the most important safety features of a vehicle. Seatbelts are mandatory for all drivers, front seat passengers, and passengers under the age of 18 in many states. Be sure to buckle up every trip, every time. Seatbelts save lives every day.