The Automobile Association of America (AAA) estimates that as many as 8.3 million Texans will be traveling between now and the end of the holiday season, with the majority of them hitting the road. With a seven percent increase over last year, Texas highways are expected to see a ton of traffic.
We want you and your family to arrive at your destination safely, so if you plan on driving this Christmas, please keep in mind these tips on how to beat four common holiday driving hazards:
- Get plenty of rest. Fatigued driving causes more than 100,000 traffic accidents every year when people either fall asleep behind the wheel or are too tired to react in time to prevent a collision. The night before you leave on your car trip, make sure to get at least eight full hours of sleep to cut your risk of being in an accident by half. If you start to feel sleepy during a long car trip, make sure to pull over and take some time to rest before continuing.
- Minimize distractions. Cell phone use, texting, eating, grooming, and other distracting activities while driving dramatically increase a person’s risk of being involved in a collision. We remind drivers to keep their focus on the road and refrain from anything that can cause their attention to even momentarily wander.
- Be patient. After hours in the car battling traffic, even the most patient driver can become frustrated and anxious to reach their holiday destination. When this happens, it can be tempting to speed or drive more aggressively than normal. However, it is important to remember that it isn’t worth compromising your family’s safety to arrive at your destination slightly faster. It is far better to arrive at your destination a little later than you had hoped than not at all.
- Don’t drink and drive. The holidays often mean celebrating with champagne, eggnog, and other festive alcoholic beverages, and unfortunately, drunk driving accidents tend to skyrocket around this time of year. Impaired driving can even be caused by prescription medications, so plan your travels accordingly!
By following these tips, you can greatly reduce your risk of getting into an accident. The Houston personal injury lawyers at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs wish you and your family a safe and Merry Christmas!
The Houston car accident attorneys at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs represent car accident victims throughout the state of Texas with more than 100 years of collective experience. If you are seeking legal counsel after an accident, please fill out a free online consultation form, or call us at (713) 751-0025.
