Safe Driving Tips for Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest weekends for travel in the United States all year round. From long-distance road trips to flights across the country, there is no shortage of travel activity everywhere you look. According to Statista, around 55.3 million people traveled for Thanksgiving in 2019. With that many people on the roads and in the air, you’ll want to be extra careful if you have plans to travel for Thanksgiving this year.

When you hit the road to travel for Thanksgiving this year, keep these safety tips in mind:

Complete a Maintenance Check On Your Vehicle

There are tons of maintenance checks you can perform on your vehicle before you leave home to ensure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Check your vehicle’s headlights, tire pressure, windshield wipers, fluids, battery, and brakes. If there is something wrong with any of these, make sure to repair the issue or take your vehicle to a mechanic before you have to drive a long distance.

Map Out Your Trip

Mapping out your trip before you leave can make things a lot easier on you. You can use apps like Google Maps or Waze to input your destination and choose from a variety of routes to get there. Some of these apps, like Waze, can even give you updated traffic safety warnings such as debris on the road or a vehicle pulled over on the shoulder of the road. If you have a newer car, you might even have GPS functionality built into your vehicle. However, you map out your trip, make sure to do so before hitting the road!

Avoid Peak Driving Hours

One of the worst feelings you can have while driving on a holiday is coming across a standstill in traffic. Sometimes there isn’t any way to avoid it, but if you can, try to pick a time outside of peak travel time. The busiest travel days for Thanksgiving tend to be the Wednesday before and the Sunday rights after. Leaving slightly before or after these days might help you avoid traveling at peak hours, and more likely to avoid an accident.

Stay Patient

If you’re not able to avoid the peak travel hours and find yourself stuck in traffic, stay calm. Even the most level-headed driver can get annoyed with heavy traffic. Remember to take your time and not drive aggressively by tailgating or speeding. You’re there to see friends and family, so drive carefully in the heavy Thanksgiving traffic to arrive safely.

Take Breaks

Depending on your destination, you may be traveling a long distance. It’s important to make a pit stop every few hours to take a break. Get out of your car, stretch your legs, and get some food or drinks if necessary. The longer you drive without taking a break, the more you risk becoming fatigued and making a mistake on the road that might lead to an accident. So when you need to, pull into a rest stop and get some fresh air.

Thanksgiving can be a wonderful opportunity to spend some quality time with your friends, family, and loved ones. However, it’s important to practice caution on the roadways if you’ll be traveling for Thanksgiving this year to avoid an accident. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a slip and fall accident and has been injured, call 1-800-411-PAIN and get the help you need! We will refer you to the attorneys that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve and the medical attention you need. If you have been hurt in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN, and we will guide you in finding you the best medical and legal professionals.