Most people agree the best time of the year is the holiday season, when everybody is celebrating with family and friends. However, celebrations can come at a cost and put others at risk of injury.
I’ll give you some important common sense motor vehicle driving safety tips, to remind you about your driving responsibilities, in hopes of reducing the risk to yourself, your family, and others. Remember the following safety tips, as you make decisions during the Holiday Season:
You need to recognize that drugs and alcohol are known to impair a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. Sometimes we forget that we also should not allow family members and friends to drive while impaired. In 2019, alcohol-impaired driving contributed to more than 10,142 crash deaths. If you drink alcohol and/or use drugs, you should designate a sober driver, call a taxi, or use a ride share Uber or Lyft service. If you have parties planned, make sure you have a plan for a designated driver.
Avoid distractions while driving, such as using your texting, cell phone use, email, social media posts or meddling with the entertainment system. Don’t take your eye or attention off the road. Give driving your full attention. If you need to use the phone, let others handle the phone until you have stopped.
You take steps to plan ahead and check the weather conditions before you hit the road. Make sure to drive at safe speeds for traffic, road, and weather conditions. Don’t rush you should allow enough time to arrive at your destination. Give yourself enough time to get to your destination.
Before your road trip make sure you have the right amount of insurance coverage. Be sure to contact your insurance agent to review coverages, so you have adequate coverage in case something unexpected happens when you’re away.
Check your vehicle service and repair records. You should make sure your vehicle is properly maintained and in good working order for the weather and driving conditions you may encounter e.g., snow. If your vehicle needs winterization or winter driving kit so you are prepared for any winter emergency. Don’t forget to include a set of jumper cables in the car.
Child Passenger Safety is one of the most important responsibilities a driver has.
You should make sure every child is properly buckled into their seat. You want to keep the holiday season injury free by protecting yourself and children. Use a car seat, booster of seat belts based upon the child’s age and size, which are known to reduce the risk of injury significantly. Children need to be buckled in correctly so avoid the common mistakes. Do not use puffy clothes under the car seat harness because the harness may not tighten properly and subject the child to ejection. Always remember children under 12 years old should be buckled rear seat of the vehicle. Always try to set a good example and buckle-up.
Teenager awareness. If you have any teen driver this holiday season make sure they know the leading causes of teen crashes and injuries include inexperienced driver, teenagers with passengers, driving at night, failing to use a seatbelt. You should make sure your teen knows the rules of the road. Sometimes it’s a good idea to put your rules in writing so the limitations and your expectations are known.
Elderly Drivers. Elderly driver can be kept mobile and independent when they can driver. However, elderly drivers are at an increased risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash. Older adults should plan ahead and take streets they are familiar with. Make sure the medications you take do not affect your driving. Get your eyes checked and wear any prescription glasses.
BEST PERSONAL INJURY AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
We hope you and your loved ones have a happy, safe, and healthy Holiday Season. If you have been involved in any kind of injury accident, please contact The Joseph Dedvukaj Law Firm and schedule a consultation to discuss your potential case. We have a history of winning big settlements for our clients, and we are not afraid to take the case to trial, if we feel this is beneficial for you. Call us today at 248-352-2110 or toll free at 1-866-447-3563 for a free consultation with our motor vehicle accident specialist lawyers.