Safety Tips for Holiday Travel

November 20, 2017

Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the biggest travel holidays in the USA. Road congestion, weather conditions, stress, and distraction all combine to create dangerous conditions on the road. Whether you are taking a road trip or simply driving to the airport, it’s important to be aware of holiday road conditions and plan accordingly in order to reach your destination safely and with minimal stress.

If the worst happens and you or your family is injured in a car accident this holiday season, don’t hesitate to contact personal injury lawyer Karl Truman at 502-306-0709. He will help you through this trying time and use all resources available to make sure you are compensated fairly.

Leave Plenty Of Time For Travel

One of the most major stressors during the holiday season is rushing around trying to make it out the door last minute, then getting stuck in traffic and wondering if you’ll make it to your destination in time. Try to avoid this by:

• Getting all your packing done early
• Waking up early enough to get ready at your leisure
• Leaving extra time to get to your destination
• If traveling on a day known for holiday traffic jams, leave yourself even more time to get to your destination

If you get out the door later than you had hoped, be patient and be safe on the roads. Trying to weave through traffic and speeding only increases your chances of being in a car accident, which will slow you down even further and may even require you to cancel your holiday plans entirely.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Many people drink more than normal during the holidays, whether at home celebrating with family, out with friends, or at a holiday work party. If you are planning to drink, the safest thing to do is make other arrangements for getting to and from your destination. These can include:

• Rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft
• Designated driver
• Taxi
• If at a friend or family member’s house, simply sleep there and drive home the next day

Drunk driving accidents and DUI arrests rise significantly in the time period between Thanksgiving and New Years Day. If you decide not to drink, take care when driving, as the number of drunk drivers on the road is apt to be higher than normal. Drive defensively, and if you see someone exhibiting dangerous behavior on the road, call 911.

Make Sure The Kids Are Entertained

We all love our kids, but the truth is that children can easily become a source of stress and distraction on a long road trip. Try to ease some of that stress and make sure that you can concentrate on the road rather than what your child is getting up to by packing enough entertainment in easy to reach places.

Children often have shorter attention spans, so put a number of books, games, and activities in the backseat with them that they can cycle through. Snacks can also be a good idea, along with pillows in case they want to take a nap.

Schedule Your Legal Consultation

If you’ve been in an accident this holiday season despite the best precautions and safe driving, don’t hesitate to contact Karl Truman at 502-306-0709 for your free legal consultation. We serve clients in Louisville, KY and Jeffersonville, IN.