Holiday Driving Safety Tips
The holidays are a popular time for travel. Whether you’re traveling home to spend the holidays with family, or you’re heading out on a shopping trip, it’s important to review some holiday driving safety tips. These tips can help you refresh your safety knowledge and keep you and your family safe.
Prepare Your Vehicle Ahead of Time
If you haven’t yet, this is a good time to take your vehicle in for preventative maintenance. In addition to the usual tasks of changing your oil and rotating your tires, your technician will also review your vehicle for any safety concerns. This can help you avoid being stranded on the side of the road.
Plan Your Route Ahead of Time
Planning your route ahead of time can help you know what to expect. For example, if you plan on driving through the night, make sure you know what big cities you may drive through in case you need to stop. It can also be helpful to take note of rest stops or hotels in case you get too tired to drive.
Pack an Emergency Kit
Before leaving, pack an emergency kit in your trunk. You may not need it, but if you do, you’ll be thankful for the supplies. Include things like a first aid kit, extra phone batteries, a change of clothes, and copies of your insurance and roadside assistance cards. You might also include an extra ice scraper to tackle winter conditions.
Check the Weather
Before you leave, make sure to check the weather. Review the weather, not only in your location but also in your destination. If there is a lot of snowfall or frigid temperatures expected, it may be worth it to wait. Even delaying your leave time by a few hours can give the road crews time to salt the roads.
Prioritize Focus
It may be tempting to engage in distractions when driving, especially when driving long distances. You may want to read or respond to text messages or make phone calls. Distracted driving can significantly increase your risk of being in a car accident. It may also be helpful to activate any hands-free devices you have before leaving.
Drive Defensively
While you may not be able to prevent all accidents from occurring, you can drive in a defensive way that reduces your risk. Defensive driving includes looking out for other drivers at all times. It means not following too closely behind the driver in front of you. It also means avoiding aggressive driving.
It can also be beneficial to know what to do if you’re in an accident. Make sure you have copies of all your insurance and registration which you may need. Make sure your smartphone is fully charged in case you need to call for help or to file a police report.
If you are injured in an accident this holiday season, do your best to preserve any evidence of wrongdoing that you may have. Then, consider contacting a lawyer to learn about your options for collecting the funds you may need to help with your recovery.
Contact an Essex County Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to an accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Birkhold & Maider, LLC represent clients injured because of an accident in Hudson Country, Essex County, Mercer County, Union County, and throughout New Jersey. Call (973) 947-4670 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 189 Franklin Avenue, Suite 1 Nutley, NJ 07110, as well as a satellite office in Hamilton, NJ.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
