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Essential Holiday Travel Safety Tips

Posted in Personal Injury on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.

The holiday season is a time of year when many will be traveling. Perhaps you expect to be as well.

If so, keep the following safety tips in mind. They’ll reduce your chances of being harmed in an accident:

Be on the Lookout for Intoxicated Drivers

Statistics indicate that accidents involving drunk drivers are more common around the holidays than they are during other times of the year. This is understandable. Many who attend holiday celebrations overindulge in alcohol. They might thus get behind the wheel after having had too much to drink.

Naturally, you shouldn’t make this mistake yourself, nor should you allow yourself to be the passenger of a vehicle whose operator might be intoxicated.

You should also keep an eye out for signs that motorists with whom you’re sharing the road may be drunk. They include:

  • Suddenly applying their brakes or accelerating
  • Driving too slow or too fast
  • Failure to maintain a lane
  • Not using their headlights in dark conditions
  • Veering to the side of the road
  • Running red lights or Stop signs
  • Tailgating

These are common warning signs of drunk drivers. If you notice them, try to put distance between yourself and a driver exhibiting these warning signs, and consider alerting law enforcement.

Don’t Drive Between Midnight and 3:00 AM

Most drunk driving accidents occur between the hours of midnight and 3:00 AM regardless of the time of year. During the holidays, when accidents involving intoxicated drivers are more common in general, staying off the road during these hours is particularly wise.

Plan Your Route Thoroughly

Accidents sometimes happen because drivers are attempting to navigate unfamiliar areas. While you might think this is less likely to be a problem in the age of GPS, it’s been shown that paying too much attention to GPS directions can also cause a driver to be involved in an accident. If you’re focusing on what your GPS is telling you to do, you’re not focusing on the road.

Do you have reason to believe your holiday travels will require you to drive in areas you don’t know very well? If so, don’t just assume your GPS will guide you to your destination. Set aside some time to plan your route in advance. You may also consider planning multiple routes in case you encounter traffic, hazardous road conditions, or other such unexpected circumstances that could force you to take a detour.

Know Your Legal Options If You’re Involved in a Holiday Travel Accident

Applying these tips can certainly reduce your chances of being involved in an accident this holiday season. However, you can only control your own decisions when traveling. It’s therefore possible you may be harmed in an accident resulting from the negligence of another party. This can happen on the road, on public transit, and virtually anywhere else.

You deserve to recover financial compensation for your medical bills and other such losses if this occurs. Our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. can help you pursue said compensation. Learn more by contacting us online or calling us at 215-929-7216.