There’s nothing like spending time with loved ones and cooking a feast during the Thanksgiving holiday. In just a few short weeks, families across California and the entire country will hit the road to enjoy these festivities at their family gatherings. AAA estimates that nearly 50 million Americans make travel trips by car during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that with more people on the road comes more traffic and an increased risk of car accidents during this time. As such, our team wants to provide you with some basic tips that can help you get to your destination safely this holiday season.
Watch Your Distance
It’s tempting to speed up and clear the gap between you and the vehicle in front of you, but it’s important to remember that road conditions can change in an instant. Leaving adequate room between your vehicle and those around you can allow you time to brake should traffic come to a halt again. Doing so also allows you to share the road and other drivers to merge in your lane.
Reduce Your Speed
You want to get to your destination and out of traffic as quickly as possible, but speeding will not get you there faster and ultimately just put you and others at risk. Go with the flow of traffic at all times, even if that means you are driving under the speed limit. Look at traffic up ahead to see if brake lights are illuminated so you can reduce your speed ahead of time, too. Remember, it’s better to get to your destination safely than not at all!
Eliminate Distractions
Drivers often believe that they can read that text or turn around to grab something in the backseat since traffic is moving so slowly. However, it only takes one second for you to take your eyes off of the road and crash into the vehicle in front of you. Always eliminate driving distractions when you are on the road. This includes anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off of the wheel, and mind off of the task of driving.
Keep Your Cool
It’s natural to feel frustrated when you are in heavy stop-and-go traffic, especially when you have someplace to be. However, you should never allow yourself to become so upset that you exhibit road rage or aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, speeding, yelling, honking, or making angry gestures. Keep your cool by putting on music and practicing mindful breathing.
All of us at Manning Law, APC hope these tips help you and your family stay safe during your Thanksgiving travels! Likewise, we wish you a wonderful and memorable holiday this year.
Should you or a loved one be injured in an accident caused by another’s negligence, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Newport Beach personal injury attorneys at (800) 783-5006 today. We offer free, personalized case reviews.