During the holidays, most people like to travel so they can visit their old friends and family members or go back to a nostalgic, familiar place. Unfortunately, the increased traffic from these special celebrations sometimes leads to increased rates of accidents.
What strategies can you employ to stay safer when driving for the holidays?
Why Holiday Driving Is Especially Dangerous
Car accidents can happen at any time – and they do. Every day, car accident lawyers receive countless inquiries from people who have recently been in accidents and may have been personally injured. If you’ve been on the road long enough, it’s likely that you’ve been in at least one accident, even if it was only a minor fender bender.
However, holiday driving is especially dangerous, and for several reasons.
- Traffic. The biggest concern is traffic. Around the holidays, most people are off work and many of us want to travel to see old friends and family members. Because the traffic is more distributed than a typical morning rush hour, the roads may not be fully congested, but there will be more people on the roads than usual. A greater number of cars on the highways naturally increases the total rate of accidents.
- Routes. People are also taking less usual routes. Instead of driving to and from work or to and from school, they’re often driving in unfamiliar territory and in unfamiliar ways. For many people, this triggers an increase in attention and caution. But even so, unfamiliar territory can make the risk of an accident much higher.
- Weather. Some of our favorite holidays occur during the winter months. While there’s a certain charm to being surrounded by family members next to a roaring fire, we also have to acknowledge that these winter months come with a plethora of additional issues. Most notably, snow and ice can make driving conditions significantly more dangerous.
- Intoxication. On top of that, holidays tend to be a time of celebration and for some people, wallowing in self-pity. On both ends of the spectrum, people are likely to drink alcohol and indulge in other intoxicating substances. Even if you totally abstain from intoxication, you need to recognize that other people on the roads may not. And all it takes is one intoxicated driver to cause an accident.
How to Stay Safer When Driving for the Holidays
What are the best strategies to stay safer when driving for the holidays?
- Be prepared. Be as prepared as possible and stock your car with supplies that could help you in the event of an emergency. For example, it’s a good idea to take extra coats and blankets, as well as food and water, in case you get stranded. It’s also helpful to have a roadside emergency kit, including visual indicators and emergency repair tools. It’s also a good idea to have a first aid kit on hand, in case anyone is significantly injured in an accident.
- Check the weather. Before traveling, check the weather report. While you may be eager to be home for the holidays, there’s no sense in traveling during a particularly intense blizzard. Take an extra day or two and visit them another time, rather than exposing yourself to these inclement conditions.
- Tune up your car. A week or two before you travel, consider taking your car in for servicing. Changing the oil, rotating the tires, and inspecting the vehicle can alert you to potential issues and minimize the possibility of a breakdown.
- Leave early. When you’re ready to start your voyage, leave early. Leaving earlier can help you avoid some of the most congested traffic, reducing your risk of accidents. It will also decrease your anxiety and give you a lessened sense of urgency, so you’re more likely to travel at a reasonable speed.
- Wear a seatbelt. Seatbelts uncontroversially save lives. Make sure you and all your passengers wear your seatbelts at all times.
- Eliminate distractions. Distracted driving kills. There’s nothing wrong with having some music or a podcast in the background, but avoid more serious distractions like texting and driving or eating while driving.
- Be aware of other drivers. Even if you drive perfectly safely, you need to be aware that other drivers won’t. Keep your attention on the behavioral patterns of other drivers around you and avoid potentially chaotic situations.
- Give more space. When in doubt, give more space to the person in front of you. It will give you much more time to react to unanticipated situations.
If you follow these strategies and exercise greater caution than usual, you can negate the additional risk of being in a car accident during the holiday months. Of course, you should also strive to be a safe driver during your normal routine as well.