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For many people, Thanksgiving means family, friends, and great food—but for drivers, it means traffic, stress, and long hours on the roads. Though our car accident attorneys here at Rebenack Aronow & Mascolo L.L.P. have helped many victims of holiday car accidents claim coverage for their collision-related expenses, we would rather help protect you from accidents in the first place. Here are some tips to keep your holiday travels collision-free.
How Can You Prepare Your Car for Holiday Travel?
Before you leave for a long drive, give your car a thorough check-up by inspecting the tire pressure and tread, fluid levels, windshield wiper operation, and light functions. Especially in fall, with frequent rain and fog, functioning safety equipment like windshield wipers and headlights can mean the difference between a safe trip and a freak accident. Also, consider packing an emergency kit with essentials like jumper cables, flashlights, and blankets.
What Should You Know About Planning Your Route?
Plan your route ahead of time to try and avoid the heaviest traffic areas. Use a reliable GPS or a mobile app to monitor real-time traffic conditions—an alternate route may make your trip less direct, but you stand a good chance of reducing your overall travel time.
Plan breaks along the way or bring a passenger along to switch driving duties. Fatigue can quickly set in during long drives, so aim to either swap or stop every couple of hours.
Why Is It Important to Be Cautious Around Large Vehicles?
Black Friday and holiday shopping means that commercial trucks populate the highways during Thanksgiving, and you will likely share the road with many of them during your trip. Trucks have significant blind spots and require more time to slow down or stop, so make sure to give them wide clearance, stay clear of their blind spots as much as possible, and avoid weaving between lanes to get around them.
How Can You Keep Kids Safe While Traveling?
Make sure that you correctly installed all car seats or booster seats for your young children, and double-check the seatbelt positioning for each child. Keep your children under 13 in the back seat, and try to occupy them with games, books, or screens to prevent distractions that might take your attention off the road.
Why Should You Avoid Driving Under the Influence?
Holidays like Thanksgiving often include alcohol—so if you plan on drinking, designate a sober driver in advance or arrange for alternative transportation after the party. Driving under the influence impairs your reaction time, judgment, and overall ability to make safe driving decisions, which will endanger you and others.
Staying Safe During the Holidays with the Somerset County Car Accident Lawyers at Rebenack Aronow & Mascolo L.L.P.
Post-holiday traffic can present just as much danger as pre-holiday traffic… if not more. Give yourself plenty of time to leave early, or consider staying an extra day to avoid the heaviest traffic. Unfortunately, freak accidents happen. If you get into a holiday collision, trust the Somerset County car accident lawyers at Rebenack Aronow & Mascolo L.L.P. to help protect your rights and guide you through the legal process. You can reach us by calling 732-247-3600 or by filling out our online contact form for a free consultation. Our New Brunswick, Somerville, and Freehold, New Jersey, offices serve clients throughout Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and Somerset County.
