The holidays are about spending time with the people you love and this Thanksgiving, an estimated 49 million Americans are planning to travel at least 50 miles from their homes to do just that. If you are among the millions of drivers and passengers who plan to travel by car to your holiday destination this week, it’s important to be prepared.
Thanksgiving Travel Preparation
- Plan Your Route – Whether your travel plans take you north on I-75 or south on I-71, it’s a good idea to map and review your route the evening before you plan to travel. It’s also wise to investigate if there is any road construction along your planned route as unexpected lane closures and slow zones can cause major delays.
- Prep Your Vehicle – The morning you plan to travel isn’t the best time to remember that your car needs an oil change or to notice that your tire needs air. It’s wise to take care of routine maintenance issues at least a day or two before you plan to travel.
- Rest Up – This Thanksgiving holiday, the roadways are likely to be more crowded and congested than normal and driving in these types of conditions takes an enormous amount of focus and vigilance. To ensure that you’re up for the challenge, it’s a good idea to get plenty of sleep the night before you plan to travel.
Thanksgiving Safe Driving Tips
- Avoid Distractions – From pets and kids to cellphones and GPS devices; you may have several things competing for your attention while you’re behind the wheel. It’s important to remember, however, that your job is to get everyone to your Thanksgiving destination safely and the only way to do that is to keep your eyes and attention on the road.
- Obey Traffic Laws – Everyone wants to get to where they’re going as quickly as possible. It’s simply not safe, however, to speed or weave in and out of traffic. The most important thing is to arrive safely at your destination so remember to signal lane changes, provide other vehicles plenty of room and drive within the speed limit.
- Keep Calm – No one enjoys sitting in traffic and sometimes the behaviors and actions of other drivers can be maddening. If you find that your blood pressure is rising while you’re behind the wheel, take a deep breath and never engage in retaliatory or antagonistic driving behaviors.
Driving during the holiday season can be challenging and even dangerous. If you or a family member is involved and injured in a traffic accident, it’s wise to consult with an attorney. An attorney will review your case and help fight to ensure that you receive just compensation for your injuries and financial losses.
