Safety Tips for Thanksgiving Travelers

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to enjoy time with friends and family. However, if your nearest and dearest are out of town, you may find yourself on the road with thousands of other drivers this Thanksgiving. Though this holiday is not the busiest time of year for travelers, it can be one of the more dangerous. According to the U.S. National Safety Commission, there are almost 400 fatalities and thousands of personal injuries that occur nationwide each year during Thanksgiving weekend. Distracted drivers, icy roads, inclement weather, and heavy traffic are among the factors that may contribute to turkey day automobile accidents.

The following are a list of tips offered from Einsurance.com to help keep you safe on the road during the holiday:

• Driver fatigue can be very dangerous and is a factor in numerous accidents, so get a good night’s rest before your trip. If you become sleepy while behind the wheel, pull over and take a short nap.
• Carefully plan your route to your destination and designate a navigator. While driving, it is unsafe to be entering information on a GPS or fumbling with a map.
• Avoid distracted driving. Put your cell phone on silent so you are not tempted to use it, or have a passenger answer the phone for you. Also, if you are traveling with children, bring snacks and different things to keep them occupied so you can concentrate on driving.
• Make sure your vehicle is in proper working condition by checking fluids and tire pressure in advance to avoid any problems on the road.
• Try and schedule regular stops for you and your passengers along the way. This can help the driver regain energy and feel refreshed, and also helps break up the trip for weary travelers.
• Most importantly, be mindful of normal safety rules, such as putting children in car seats and ensuring that everybody is wearing his or her seat belt.

Traveling during any holiday can be risky, and taking necessary safety precautions unfortunately can’t always prevent you from being in an accident caused by a negligent and careless driver. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident due to the fault of another driver, the Waldorf auto accident attorneys with Alpert Schreyer can help. Please call (800) 489-1577 for a complimentary consultation. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!