The holiday travel season is upon us, and according to forecasts it will be the busiest we’ve seen in a few years. AAA expects around 120 million people to travel at least 50 miles for Christmas and other year-end holidays between December 23 and January 2. That means travel is back to pre-pandemic levels.
More than 100 million of those travelers will be driving to their holiday destinations. The roads here in Texas and across the nation will be busy, and more traffic means more chances for crashes. If you and your family are hitting the road this holiday season, lower your risk of being hurt in an auto accident by following a few road safety tips from our Dallas lawyers.
1. Don’t Drink and Drive, Assume Others Are
Approximately half of all traffic fatalities that occur from Thanksgiving through the end of the year involve alcohol. If you decide to have a few drinks at a holiday party, get a Lyft or Uber ride home or have a friend or relative bring you home. Don’t endanger others by getting behind the wheel intoxicated.
And anyone who doesn’t drink and is okay to drive should be extra attentive, because it’s highly likely that there will be more drunk drivers on the road than at other times of the year.
2. Don’t Be Distracted by Your Passengers
Road trips with family means you might have kids or pets or both in your vehicle. They can cause a lot of noise and commotion, which can take your attention off the road. Rather than try to calm things down from behind the wheel, take the time to pull over first. To minimize distracted driving, stop the car, address the kids and then get back on the road.
3. Put the Phone Down
Speaking of distractions, is there any worse distraction than your phone? You might be getting text messages from relatives about what time to be there for dinner, but you don’t need to answer immediately. Even if it only takes five seconds to read a text, you’re creating a serious hazard: At 55 miles an hour, your car will cover the length of a football field in those five seconds.
4. Keep Night Driving to a Minimum
Driving in the dark is always more dangerous than driving during the day, and night driving is even more treacherous around the holidays. That’s mainly true because of the increased drunk driving.
5. Get Your Rest
The holidays can be stressful, even more so when you’re planning a road trip. But try to relax before you hit the road. Get plenty of sleep the night before you head out and the night before you go home. Remember, driving when you’re tired can be just as bad as driving intoxicated, as the Sleep Foundation and many studies have explained.
Get Help If You’re Injured in a Holiday Auto Accident in Texas
Following these tips can help you stay safe, but nothing can totally prevent accidents. If you get hurt in a car or truck wreck during the holidays this year, call Ted B. Lyon & Associates at 877-Ted-Lyon / 877-833-5966 or contact us online. You may be entitled to compensation.
