Thanksgiving Weekend Travel Tips to Stay Safe

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

Thanksgiving Day weekend has traditionally been one of the busiest travel times of the year. Millions of Americans all across the country hop into planes, trains, and automobiles to spend time with family and friends. AAA has put estimates at the number of people who will be traveling next week at approximately 47 million. And almost 90 percent of those travelers will be using motor vehicles as their mode of transportation. Unfortunately, along with the increased number of travelers comes an increased number of auto accidents.

According to national statistics, Thanksgiving Day 2012 was the deadliest holiday that year. There were 416 people killed in car crashes, nationwide. Of those killed, more than half were not wearing seat belts when the crash occurred. And more than 40 percent of those fatal crashes were alcohol-related. In addition to the number of people killed, another 45,000 were injured in crashes that day.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers tips for motorists to follow to help ensure that it will be a Happy Thanksgiving. Top on the that list is to always wear your seat belt, no matter how short a drive you may have. The NHTSA also recommends that children under 13-years-old should be seated in the back of the vehicle, not the front.

Motorists are also urged to never drive after they have been drinking. Even just a couple of glasses of wine or beer can have an adverse effect on a driver’s ability to react and focus. If you are going to drink, have a designated driver, or make arrangements to stay overnight and stay off the roads.

Distracted driving has shown to be just as deadly as drunk driving. Only a few seconds of taking your eyes off the road can have deadly consequences. Many states, including Illinois, have instituted hands-free driving laws, however, not matter what the law, it is much safer to put the smartphones away while you are driving.

Before you hit the road, make sure your vehicle is in good shape to travel. Check the tires to make sure there are no worn areas of tread and check the pressure in each one. That also includes your spare tire. Also inspect your windshield wipers and make sure the washer fluid reservoir is filled.

When you are ready to leave for your destination, check weather reports for any approaching bad weather and plan accordingly. Your vehicle should also have certain items in the event you do break down or become stranded. These items include: blankets, broom, flares, flashlight, jumper cables, ice scraper, and snow shovel. It is also a good idea to keep extra food and water in the vehicle when you are traveling.

Despite taking these precautions, you may find yourself the victim of a car crash caused by another driver. If this happens, contact an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have.

Source:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2014/plan-ahead-before-driving-for-thanksgiving