AAA expects more than 120 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more as they hit the road this holiday season. Roads and highways in Dallas and around Texas will be busy, and there could be more accidents than there were the past couple of years when people weren’t driving quite as much.
If you and your family are driving to see loved ones this year, keep these simple safety tips in mind to help reduce your risk of being injured in a wreck.
1. Don’t Drink and Drive, But Assume Others Will
Alcohol is involved in nearly half of all traffic deaths that occur between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. If you choose to drink, make sure you call an Uber or Lyft at the end of the night. Or have a family member or friend take you home.
If you don’t drink, make sure you’re paying extra attention as you drive home, because there will likely be more impaired drivers on the road than usual.
2. Try Not to Get Distracted by Kids in the Car
Every parent knows traveling with kids can be stressful. It can be distracting, too. Your kids could be playing games, watching videos, laughing or arguing with each other.
Your instinct may be to pay attention to what they’re doing and try to calm them down when things get loud. But that can take your eyes and mind off the road. If you need to calm a child down or referee what’s going on in the backseat, pull over to do so.
3. Avoid Other Distractions
A vehicle traveling 55 miles an hour covers the length of a football field in about five seconds. Five seconds is also about how long it takes to read a text message.
If you’re getting texts from your in-laws as you’re driving, the safest thing to do is not read them. They may be wondering where you are, but giving updates from a moving car is dangerous.
Don’t check your social media or send emails while driving, either. In fact, avoid using your phone for anything other than its GPS capabilities while you’re driving.
4. Try to Minimize Driving at Night
If at all possible, try to stay off the roads after dark. Driving at night is always more dangerous, but it’s even worse during holiday time. That’s because there are more intoxicated people out on the roads, especially at night, as they head home from holiday parties.
5. Get Plenty of Rest
The days before a holiday road trip can be stressful. It’s easy to lose sleep trying to get everything ready to go. But you should try to relax and get enough sleep before you head out. After all, driving when you’re too tired can make you just as dangerous as someone who’s been drinking.
Injured in a Holiday Auto Accident? Call Our Dallas Lawyers.
While following these tips can help keep you safe, nothing is foolproof. In the unfortunate event that you get hurt in a car or truck accident during this holiday season, reach out to Ted B. Lyon & Associates. Our lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation. Call 877-Ted-Lyon / 877-833-5966 or send us a message anytime.
