Thanksgiving is the third most dangerous holiday in the U.S.; only the Fourth of July and Memorial Day weekend are more dangerous. Last year, 42.2 million drivers traveled to visit family and friends, and 2015 will likely be no different. As we enter into the holiday season, busy Georgia roadways are going to become even more congested. Family members traveling to visit family will be joined on the roadways with shoppers excited to take advantage of Black Friday deals and bargains. If you are preparing to take a road trip this Thanksgiving holiday, here are a few tips to help you avoid a car accident and arrive safely at your destination:
- Change Your Travel Days. You and your family may want to travel on less popular days. The Wednesday before and the Sunday after the holiday are the busiest travel days, and there tends to be a higher number of car accidents on these days.
- Stay Overnight at Your Destination. You may want to consider staying overnight after dinner; this is especially true if you plan to drink. If you are unable to stay overnight, it may be a safer idea to stay at a nearby hotel or choose a designated driver.
- Avoid Drowsy Driving. Make sure that you sleep the night before drive. Pull over if you feel drowsy and take regular breaks if you have a long drive.
- Have Your Car Serviced. If you are taking a long trip, it is a good idea to take your car in for a quick oil change. You may also want to make sure your tires have enough air and tread to drive in winter weather.
- Keep Emergency Equipment in Your Trunk. Make sure that you have an emergency kit in your car. A set of flares, blankets and bottles of water can help you stay comfortable if you are in a car accident in a remote location.
- Drive Safely. Try driving at, or slightly below, the speed limit when you are in high volume traffic. You will want to make sure you follow the flow of traffic but allow extra stopping room in wet or icy conditions. Also, make sure you are careful when you pass other cars and that you can see oncoming traffic.
- Avoid Distracted Driving. It is against the law to text and drive in Georgia. If you need to make phone calls during your drive home use a hands-free device or designate a passenger to dial numbers and take text messages for you.
Contact an Attorney
Even after taking steps to make sure you are driving safely, increased traffic volume, longer drives and winter weather conditions make car accidents more likely to happen. If you and your loved ones are injured in a car accident this holiday, then you should contact the car accident attorneys at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, PLLC. We can help you begin the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit or help you ensure the costs of your recovery are covered. Please contact us today to discuss how we can help you.
