Tips for Safe Travel During the Holiday Season
During the holiday season, the number of motor vehicle accidents tends to increase. This is, in part, because of the fact that people are driving while fatigued, driving while distracted, and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. If you are traveling for the holidays, it is important that you take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones while on the road. Here are some safe travel tips for drivers and passengers of all ages this holiday season.
How Drivers Can Practice Safe Driving this Holiday Season
There are a few major things to watch out for this holiday season. The first is to never drive or allow your friends or family members to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 10,000 alcohol related driving accidents in 2019. If you want to do your part to protect yourself and your family, start by never allowing yourself, your friends or family to drive impaired.
You can also be a vigilant driver and avoid any and all potential distractions. One of the biggest types of distracted driving is cell phone use. If you are sending or reading a text message, accessing social media, engaging in video chats, or otherwise have your attention away from the roads before you, you are risking your own life and those you share the roads with.
Drowsy driving is another risk that increases around the holidays. During this time of the year, people run themselves ragged going from shopping to school events to holiday parties and other events. On top of that, may people travel a significant distance to visit with loved ones. In the midst of all this, it is very important to ensure that you get enough sleep and do not drive while you are drowsy or fatigued. For adults, seven hours of sleep is ideal. For teen drivers, eight hours of sleep is better.
How Teens and Older Drivers Can Protect Themselves and Others
Speaking of teen drivers, teens and aging drivers need to be especially careful to prepare for different types of weather conditions. Always check the weather report for storms and other adverse conditions, and when they occur, slow down to a manageable speed.
Elderly drivers in particular should be sure to speak with their doctor and or pharmacist about their overall health and medication. You will want to be sure that your vision is still good, and that any medications you take are not going to impact your ability to drive safely.
Teen and elderly drivers should also use well-lit driving routes that provide easy opportunities for parking and turn signals. These steps could go a long way in helping to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents that occur this holiday season.
Keeping Child Passengers Safe
One of the most important things you can do this holiday season is make sure to keep any child passengers who may be traveling with you safe. One of the most important ways that you can do this is by making sure that the children are properly buckled. Every child will need a different type of car seat or booster seat depending on their height and weight. The only way that children can be safe is if their car seats or booster seats are used correctly.
One major mistake that many drivers make with their children is putting them in the car with bulky coats. When a child is wearing a bulky coat, it makes it more difficult for the seatbelt to be properly fastened. This creates a loose harness that can lead to critical injuries and death in the event of a collision. Protect your children by putting them in tighter fitting coats and bring a blanket to cover them in the car if it is cold.
Get Help from a Car Accident Lawyer in Pittsburgh, PA
While you are out and about this holiday season celebrating with your family and friends, it is important to drive safely to protect not only yourself, but your loved ones and those you share the roadways with as well.
If you’ve been seriously injured in an auto accident this season and need an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney to help you get justice, contact Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman today. Schedule your no-cost, risk-free case evaluation when you call our office at 412-567-1232 or toll-free at 866-466-5789 or complete our online contact form.
