The holiday season is upon us and it’s easy to get mixed up in the spirit of celebration by running around to stay on top of your shopping. As you’re running between stores to find that perfect gift, it’s imperative that you keep in mind that this can be one of the most dangerous times for road impairment. More people are driving on the streets, trying to get to the hot holiday item just like you. Following some simple driving safety tips can help reduce the risk of an accident.
Driving Safety Tips For the Holiday Season
Since Christmas is often a time to meet up with friends and family, you need to make road safety a priority. Here are some easy driving safety tips to keep in mind while you’re dashing around town, so you don’t end up getting injured in a car accident.
Don’t Drink and Drive
Since the holiday season is notorious for car accidents, whether from inclement weather or inebriated drivers, police are always out in full force. It’s best for your safety and your driving record that you avoid drinking and driving. If you find yourself at a party and you’ve had a drink or two, you may need to make arrangements to get home other than driving yourself. If you have to hail a taxi, call a friend, or if you can, spend the night.
Drive Cautiously
Drive slowly, remember the goal is to spend Christmas Eve with friends and family, not in an E.R. This is a busy time, you’ve got shopping to do, cakes to bake, and a house to decorate, but you probably don’t want to pick a ticket for yourself.
Wear Your Seatbelt
Make sure you buckle up every time you get behind the wheel. December doesn’t generally provide the best driving weather. It’s easy to just go for a drive to the local convenience store and hit a patch of black ice. It only takes a moment to pull your belt across you and that’s time well spent.
Wait to Make Your Phone Calls
Everyone is aware now that talking or texting while you’re driving is a risky affair. Even if you’re using a hands-free set, you should probably wait until you’ve parked before calling your spouse to ask what present you were supposed to pick up from the store.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
You want to make sure that you are on the lookout for anything that could affect your driving. If you hear the sirens or see the lights of an emergency vehicle, you’ll need to pull over to the side of the road and allow the fire truck, ambulance, or police cruiser to pass.
You’ll also need to scan your horizon in case there was an accident in front of you. If you see something, you’ll want to slow down, because you never know what caused the initial accident and don’t want to add to it. As you pass, make sure to leave a wide breadth to avoid any additional hazards.
Clear Your Car from Snow and Debris
Before setting off on your shopping spree, do a quick walk around your car to make sure that it’s in proper driving condition. If snow or ice has accumulated on your vehicle, you’ll need to make sure that it has been removed from every window, so that you have a clear field of vision. You’ve probably seen someone just clean off the driver side section of the windshield, just make sure you’re not that person. You’ll also want to clear off your roof and trunk as well, as a large build-up of snow can slide down the back of your rearview window, obstructing your once clear view.
Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Car
During this time of year, it’s vital to keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Batteries die, patches of ice and send you into a ravine, and sometimes the snow can be so thick that you can barely see three feet ahead of your car lights. If you find yourself in one of these situations, you’re going to be happy that you’ve packed your emergency kit. You should be sure to include an ice scraper, salt, flashlights, flares, a small shovel, and some blankets.
Be Aware of Other Drivers
As you’re probably aware, not everyone is a good driver, and you’ve probably seen some making risky maneuvers on the road. If you couple this with bad weather, then they can become more than a threat to just themselves, they can become a threat to you. You should be vigilant while driving, as other drivers’ can speed past you and hit a patch of ice, swerve unexpectedly, or be too confident in their skill or their vehicle’s ability to handle the weather.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer if You Get Injured in a Car Accident
With the holiday season comes an increased risk of getting into a car accident, there’s just so many people sharing the road. Following these driving safety tips will help reduce your risk of an accident. However, if you do get injured, call an experienced car accident law firm right away. They can help get you the compensation you deserve.
