7 Tips You Need To Know To Keep Your Family Safe In Holiday Traffic
December 25, 2017
There is nothing quite like the holiday spirit. Decorations go up, holiday music gets played and many get the chance to visit family while taking time off from work.
With so many people making time for family and friends, traffic becomes more of a dangerous outing than a casual trip to grandma’s house. The holiday season, which includes Christmas Eve and day and New Year’s Eve, is one of the most dangerous times to travel in terms of fatal motor vehicle accidents. Many accidents happen at the hands of drunk drivers, especially on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
The 2017 holiday season will see another mass of holiday traffic, which means automobile accidents will, unfortunately, be a common occurrence yet again. So what can you do in order to keep yourself and your family safe while traveling in holiday traffic?
Here are seven tips to help you stay safe:
- Avoid speeding – there is no rush. Everyone on the road is trying to reach their respective destination in one piece and speeding only makes it harder to stop or react to hazards or other vehicles on the road.
- Do not tailgate – it is essential to keep a safe following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. If the motorist in front of you suddenly brakes — regardless of the reason — would you be able to safely stop without colliding with them? It is paramount that you ask this question often when behind the wheel.
- Do not drink and drive — a lot of holiday traffic accidents happen at the hands of a drunk driver. Set up a designated driver if you plan on drinking or do not drink at all if you know you will be driving.
- Avoid distractions — with a full car of passengers it is easy to get distracted. Do your best to avoid distracted driving by having a passenger handle things like the music, temperature controls or GPS. Also, avoid using your cell phone if you are driving.
- Adjust to road conditions — it is December, which means road conditions might not be ideal during holiday travel. If roads are slippery then be sure to go even slower and further increase following distance. Also, make sure to use your windshield wipers and headlights if necessary.
- Be well-rested — make an effort to get plenty of rest if you know you will be driving. This way you can stay alert and focused on the road without worrying about falling asleep behind the wheel.
- Wear a seat belt — unfortunately, sometimes accidents cannot be avoided. Wearing a seat belt can make all the difference in these situations between walking away from or ending up seriously injured in an accident.
With accidents almost a sure occurrence during the holiday season, you might need an experienced attorney on your side to help settle an accident or injury that stems from one. Here in New Jersey the law offices of Hoyt & Hoyt, PC have talented and experienced attorneys ready to get you back on track following a personal injury or automobile accident.
Call (973) 718-7744 or fill out our online contact form to schedule an initial consultation.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
