Posted on Friday, November 18th, 2016 at 3:55 am
The holidays are a wonderful time of year. The holiday season is filled with family, friends, and wonderful holiday traditions. The holidays also bring traffic, stress, and frustration along with the merrymaking. Millions of people travel during the holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving and continuing through the New Year.
Because more people will be on the roads during the holidays and nerves can be on edge as everyone tries to get those last-minute errands finished or get out of town, it is important to stay safe when you are on the road. Below are holiday driving tips that can help you avoid an accident so you can arrive at your destination safe and ready to celebrate.
Leave Early
Leave yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination. When you are running behind, you may be tempted to speed in order to get back on schedule. Whether you are going across town, across the state, or to the other side of the country, leaving early helps avoid stress.
Go To Bed Early
Go to bed early the night before you drive. Having a full night’s sleep is essential for safety, especially if you are facing heavy traffic. Driving while you are fatigued or tired can be as dangerous as driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. If you do become sleepy while driving, pull over and share the driving duties with another adult.
Avoid Distractions
Distracted driving is becoming one of the most common causes of car accidents. You need complete focus to deal with holiday traffic. Stay off your cell phone and limit other distractions, such as eating, adjusting vehicle settings, texting, and grooming. Let your passenger be in charge of navigation and taking care of other passengers.
Don’t Drink And Drive
During the holidays, if you enjoy celebrating with alcoholic beverages, remember to designate a sober driver or arrange for other transportation. Even a few drinks can impair your ability to drive. The few seconds your actions may be impaired by alcohol could be the seconds that allow you to avoid a tragic accident.
Remain Calm
Road rage is a problem every day; however, road rage can be a much larger problem when people are stressed because of the holidays. Frustration and anger on the road can turn into aggressive and reckless driving. Try to remain calm even though your nerves may be frazzled from the holiday stress and traffic. If you encounter an aggressive or angry driver, move out of the way and let the driver pass. Engaging an angry driver is never a wise choice.
Do You Need A Sacramento Car Accident Attorney?
If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, our Sacramento car accident attorney wants to help. We offer free consultations and case evaluations for accident victims and their families. We encourage you to take advantage of the free initial appointment to learn about your rights regarding accident claims BEFORE you talk to the insurance company for the other driver.
Call the Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 to schedule your appointment with a Sacramento car accident attorney or chat with one of our representatives on our website.
