Tips For Safe Travel During The Holidays

As the calendar turns to November and the weather begins to turn for the worse, things can get precarious. This coincides with a busy holiday travel season. Millions of Americans will head to airports and take to the highways to visit friends and family over the next several months. This, of course, means being exposed to greater risk, at times in inclement weather.

According to the American Automobile Association, more than 46 million people travel during the holidays, with many of those people driving. The combination of additional traffic and the possibility of poor weather means drivers must be vigilant to avoid accidents.

If you venture outside your local region and experience bad weather, you may not be accustomed to getting around. Say you are from California and travel to Washington State, where slick and icy roads are commonplace during the winter months. You might not be prepared for a Washington State car accident. Preparing yourself is a good idea.

Here are some winter weather driving tips:

• Take time to defrost: This can drastically improve visibility and make it easier for you to see an oncoming motorist or other obstacle.

• Easy on the gas: Driving at a generally slower speed in snow and ice can obviously reduce the odds that you lose control of your vehicle.

• Use headlights always: Even in the daytime, headlights can make it easier for you to see through the fog and other weather conditions.

• Don’t tailgate: Larger vehicles take longer to come to a full stop, and this is especially true when the roadways are covered in ice and snow.

• Slow down at intersections: Intersections, freeway off-ramps, bridges and dark spots of the roadway are some of the most common areas for ice to build up.

• Carry supplies in your car: Chains, ice scrapers, shovels and first aid supplies can come in handy in the event of an emergency during the winter.

Should you find yourself in an accident these holidays, make sure you are not at risk of being struck by any other vehicles on the roadway before you speak with the other driver who was involved in the collision.

If you suffer any injuries in the collision, it is likely best to call an ambulance so that you may seek treatment for your injuries and get medical documentation that your injuries were the result of the collision you were in. After you’ve gathered yourself, it’s best to speak with an experienced car accident attorney to learn about your legal rights.