Our Top Tips for Staying Safe While Traveling This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends that you don’t normally get to see. From Thanksgiving to New Years, millions of drivers will hit the road to visit family and friends, go on trips, and celebrate the holidays. However, with all this increased traffic on the road, it’s more important than ever to keep safety in mind.
The holiday season is one of the most dangerous times of year to drive. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 4,585 car accidents on Thanksgiving weekend alone in 2021. Whether you’re staying in the state of Florida, or on a trek to a colder state up north, keep reading today’s blog to learn our top tips for staying safe on the road this holiday season.
Look Up the Forecast
If you’re planning a long road trip, knowing the weather forecast can mean the difference between arriving safely and getting in an accident. This tip is especially important when traveling outside the state of Florida to an area where there might be snow. Always check the weather forecast for the route you plan to take. A heavy snowstorm can wreak havoc on your plans of arriving at your destination safely.
Prepare Your Vehicle
As a follow up to our previous tip, if you mainly drive in Florida, your car may not be properly equipped for winter weather. If you’re traveling to an area where you might encounter snow on the roads, you should consider preparing your vehicle for the harsher road conditions. Some ways to do this include inspecting your tire treads, changing your oil, checking your car battery, and bringing along an ice scraper for your windshield.
Have a Backup Plan
Even if you’ve checked the forecast and properly prepared your vehicle, sometimes mother nature has other plans for our roadtrip. Before you head out on your holiday road trip, make a backup plan. If your first route gets hit by a sudden snowstorm, you should have a backup route you can take to avoid the icy road conditions. Before leaving, let someone else know your trip route plans just in case you end up stranded on the road with no phone signal to communicate with.
Beware of Impaired Drivers
Unfortunately, the holiday season is one of the most dangerous times to drive in part due to impaired drivers. Holidays like New Year’s Eve can be especially dangerous when it comes to an increase in drunk drivers on the road. The best way to avoid impaired drivers is to limit any driving you have to do at night on a holiday. If you can’t avoid driving, always be alert for impaired drivers on the road. Carefully avoid their vehicle and consider alerting authorities if you encounter a driver who is swerving in and out of their lane.
The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to see your friends and family. However, road safety is always of the utmost importance no matter what time of year it is. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN. If you’ve been involved in an accident, the guidance from a personal injury attorney could help navigate the aftermath. It is helpful to have legal and medical experts on your side. The experts at 1-800-411-PAIN can help explain your options, fight for the compensation you deserve, and guide you through a swift recovery.
If you or a loved person has been injured in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN today. Our legal professionals can help you navigate the tricky process of filing an insurance claim. Our medical professionals are here to provide you with the treatment you need. Remember, after 911, call 411.