We all love road trips and enjoying the landscape together with our families for the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately, driving a vehicle always carries the risk of an accident.
Here are 10 safe driving tips to minimize any danger during Christmas celebrations.
Before continuing with a couple of valuable tips for your road trip, it is necessary to know some facts and be aware of what the accident and mobility statistics tell us, so we can prepare a more comfortable, pleasant, and free-accident trip.
Road trip statistics on Christmas
On average, more than 48 million drivers are expected to use USA’s highways each year, creating the worst congestion on major highways and increasing the risk of accidents. Some highways double and even triple the number of vehicles.
What is the worst time to drive during the Christmas holidays?
On average the busiest hours are always from 1 pm to 5 pm. These are the hours of greatest traffic, and therefore, represent a greater risk of an accident. The best time to take the road to your favorite destination is in the morning between 9 am and 11 am.
If your work or school activities allow it, the best days to travel during the Christmas holidays are from December 19 to 20, when the traffic congestion hasn’t started.
Keep in mind that more than 50% of car accidents during holidays occur in the evening, due to driver fatigue, distraction, speeding, and drunk driving.
One of the main causes of car accidents during the Christmas Holiday is drunk driving, representing an annual average of more than 30% of accidents.
10 safe driving tips for the Christmas trip
- Carry out complete maintenance of your vehicle: brake system, electrical system.
- Get a good night’s sleep before the trip to avoid tiredness or fatigue while driving.
- Increase preventive driving measures in case of sudden weather changes. Especially if there are heavy rains.
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages before or during the trip. This is one of the leading causes of traffic accident fatalities during the Christmas holiday. Choose a driver if you intend to consume alcoholic drinks.
- Do not exceed the speed limit. A couple of hours late is better than losing control of your vehicle along with your family on board.
- Wear a seat belt and make sure everyone else wears it properly. Make sure that children are properly secured in their car seats.
- Do not use the cell phone. Give the cell phone to the co-pilot to answer your calls, and messages, that way you focus your attention on the road.
- If you don’t know the road, plan your route ahead of time so you don’t make sharp turns or unexpected lane changes when taking a freeway exit. Likewise, to avoid peak hours of congestion.
- Make regular stops, every 3 to 4 hours or less if possible. Stretch the body, legs, and arms, and take a short break.
- Lastly, be patient. On Christmas holidays there will always be high traffic. Everyone wants to get to their destination fast to enjoy themselves, so if you find yourself in a traffic jam, take it easy.
What to do when a traffic accident happens at Christmas?
During the Christmas holiday, there is such traffic congestion that no one is exempt from a car accident. If you are involved, follow these steps to ensure compensation for injuries and property damage.
- Call 911 for immediate medical and police help.
- If you are able, obtain the contact information of the other drivers involved in the accident: license numbers, vehicle license plate, address and contact phone number, name and insurance policy number.
- If you are able, obtain the contact information of possible witnesses to the accident and their statements.
- Go to the doctor and make sure you get all the records of medical care, treatments, medications, rehabilitation, and surgeries, among others.
- Contact a car accident lawyer for free to advise you on the next steps you must take on the road to recovery.
We understand that a car accident is the last thing you want to experience at your Christmas celebration. However, accidents happen unexpectedly due to the negligence of others. For your safety and that of your family, the best advice we can offer you to enjoy your Christmas holidays is: do not drink alcoholic beverages and do not speed.
When a driver and their passengers are in a serious personal injury accident, they have to deal with medical procedures, insurance claims, being out of work to cover their expenses, among other stressful situations.
