The holiday season is a wonderful time of the year to get together with family and friends. Because it is such a busy travel season, roads and highways are usually packed, which means that the risk of car accidents also rises proportionally. In fact, traffic accidents tend to spike between Thanksgiving and the New Year.
No one wants their holiday ruined by a car accident. We care about your safety, which is why we have put together this list of safe driving reminders.
- Make sure you get enough sleep before you leave. Fatigued driving is a leading cause of preventable accidents. Before embarking on a long road trip, make sure you have gotten a full night’s sleep.
- Never drink and drive. If your holiday celebrations will include alcohol, don’t forget to designate a driver if you need to go anywhere at the end of the evening. Never get behind the wheel if you’ve had anything to drink!
- Pull over if you get lost. People who travel long distances for the holidays may find themselves on unfamiliar roads. In such situations, it may be tempting to rely on a smartphone or GPS device while driving, but even a momentary glance away from the road can be very dangerous. Make sure that you pull over to a safe area before you shift your focus to the map.
- Put away distractions. With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can be easy to get distracted – just don’t let it happen while you are driving. Refrain from using your cell phone, eating, listening to overly loud music, and other behaviors that take your attention away from the road.
- Remain calm. Holiday traffic can be frustrating, but never allow it to affect your driving. Tailgating, speeding, and making unsafe lane changes out of impatience won’t do anything to make your trip go any faster, but it will dramatically increase your chance of an accident – remember that it’s not worth it!
While an accident can happen at any time, there are still plenty of things that you can do proactively to reduce your risk. We hope you find these tips helpful and wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday!
Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC handles car accident cases throughout the state of Kentucky. If you have been injured in a holiday auto accident caused by a fatigued, intoxicated, distracted, or aggressive driver, you may be entitled to compensation. We encourage you to contact a Lexington car accident attorney at our firm to learn more about your legal rights.
Schedule your free case evaluation when you call our office at (859) 253-0088.