It can be dangerous to drive at any time of the year, but especially when a lot of people are driving more than an hour to reach a holiday destination. Thanksgiving is one of the most traveled holidays in the United States. Many people choose to drive to holiday destinations to be with family and friends.
More travelers means there is a greater chance for accidents, injuries, and fatalities over the Thanksgiving holiday period. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, last year, there was an estimated 53.5 million motorists that drove more than an hour to get to their Thanksgiving destination. With tens of millions of people traveling by car, certain dangers could cause accidents.
Common driving dangers over the Thanksgiving holiday period include:
- Aggressive and reckless driving.
- Distracted and drowsy driving.
- Vehicles with mechanical problems.
- Bad weather.
There will be an increase in traffic over the holiday period. Stressed drivers become more aggressive and reckless while on the road.
Many drivers also become distracted while driving and ignore their driving for sometimes several seconds at a time. Others might become drowsy after a busy start to the work week followed by driving for the holiday.
Poor vehicle maintenance contributes to driving dangers. Bad weather often happens in late fall, and a poorly maintained vehicle is more likely to cause an accident.
Drunk Driving Accidents on Thanksgiving Eve
Additionally, the night before Thanksgiving is the busiest bar night of the year. Many people meet up with old friends and family members at bars across the nation to catch up on old times. Most will have the following day off of work and likely the weekend too. A four-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Sunday makes it more likely that people will imbibe. More people going to bars means more drivers on the road who are under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Driving Tips for the Thanksgiving Holiday
If you intend to drive somewhere to celebrate Thanksgiving, you should count on the trip taking about twice as long as normal. Planning a route and drive time can help you stay calm and avoid stressful situations.
You should turn off your cellphone while you are driving to help prevent distracted driving accidents. If you have a passenger, that person could answer calls and respond to text messages while you take care of the driving.
Taking regular breaks during the trip will help keep you alert. A backup driver also could take over if you feel drowsy.
You should also ensure your car is properly maintained and ready for the road trip. Even something like a burned-out bulb might be enough to cause an accident.
Media Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Can Help After a Thanksgiving Crash
This Thanksgiving holiday period, make sure you are extra cautious while driving. If you have been injured in an accident, speak with one of our Media car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. Call us at 610-565-3701 or complete our online form to schedule an initial consultation. Located in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we serve clients in Chester County, Montgomery County, and Delaware County.