With the holidays quickly approaching, many of us begin to think about making plans to get together with family and friends. For many people, this means traveling, and whether you go across town or across the country, you want to make sure you get to your destination safely. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and the increase in drivers and traffic on the roads unfortunately results in an increase in highway accidents. Car wrecks and accidents are at a yearly high over the Thanksgiving weekend, and these accidents often result in serious and potentially life threatening injuries. Play it safe this year and follow these holiday travel road safety tips to prepare for your trip and to ensure you get to where you are going safely.
Before Your Trip
Jump Ahead To
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the holidays are some of the busiest travel days of the year. With millions of people gearing up to hit the roads this Thanksgiving, the NHTSA has launched its annual holiday traffic safety campaign. The campaign aims to reduce fatalities on the roadway by reminding drivers of basic travel safety precautions they can take, both to reduce the chance of an accident occurring, as well as to reduce the chances of injuries should an accident happen. Preparation is key, so follow these NHTSA safety tips for preparing for holiday trips :
- Plan your travel route in advance, and check for any impending adverse weather or traffic conditions;
- Have your mechanic do an inspection of your vehicle. Check tires and tire pressure, brakes, and battery life. Make sure there are no leaky hoses or faulty lines;
- Check fluid levels, and do not forget to fill your washer fluid and change your wipers if needed;
- Make sure you have a working spare tire, as well as a jack and jumper cables;
- Assemble an emergency kit for your car, with flashlight, flares, blankets, gloves, bottled water, and a few snacks; and
- Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before hitting the road, and let family and friends know the route you will take and your estimated time of arrival.
If you do get stranded, remember to pull as far off the road as possible, and wait in your vehicle until help arrives.
Safety Tips for On the Road
The NHTSA reports that of traffic fatalities that occur each year over the holidays, over 40 percent involved drunk drivers, and 60 percent of those killed were not wearing a seat belt. To help prevent accidents, follow these road safety tips from the American Red Cross:
- Always wear your seatbelt, and insist passengers do the same. Make sure young children are in approved child safety seats;
- Make sure you are well rested before hitting the road. Avoid medications that could make you drowsy or impair your judgement;
- Avoid distractions, such as cell phones, texting, or fumbling with maps and GPS;
- Observe the speed limit, and avoid aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating or improper passing; and
- Make frequent stops during long trips, and rotate drivers if possible.
As always, do not drink and drive. Once you get to your destination, limit the amount of alcohol you drink over the weekend, and always make sure to have a designated driver.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a car accident, contact an experienced South Carolina personal injury attorney right away. At Lauren Taylor Law, we provide aggressive legal representation for accident victims, and fight to hold responsible parties accountable for the injuries they caused. Get the highly effective legal help you need to get the compensation you deserve. Serving all of upstate South Carolina, call our office today at (864) 326-2888.
South Carolina divorce attorney Lauren Taylor practices family law in Charleston and Greenville. She graduated from the Charlotte School of Law, and has been practicing for more than ten years.
Since the firm’s inception in 2012, Mrs. Taylor has helped hundreds of people navigate the uncertainties surrounding the family and criminal court process.
She has cultivated a team that ensures each case has a strategy crafted specifically to the clients needs and desires.
Her commitment to top notch service has led her to open two additional offices in the low country where she now resides with her husband Michael and her golden retriever, Buster.