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5 Driving Tips for Safe Thanksgiving Travel

Thanksgiving — A Big Driving Holiday

Holidays are a great time to catch up with family and friends. While some of us enjoy holidays at home, there are others who travel to meet their loved ones to celebrate the holidays.

With Thanksgiving holidays approaching a lot of people are planning to travel to meet their near and dear ones. People in Florida too are busy packing their bags to embark on road trips.

AAA has predicted that a whopping 48.3 million people will hit the roads for Thanksgiving this year. This is 4 million more people who drove during Thanksgiving in 2020.

With US borders now open and a large part of the population vaccinated, along with a long holiday weekend, and health guidelines in place, a lot of people are opting to drive this year. All this translates to dreaded holiday traffic snarls on roads and highways, and, unfortunately, also accidents waiting to happen.

So, how are you preparing yourself to meet this rush-hour?

We at Accident Clinic, Miami FL care about your safety and well-being. Keeping your safety in mind we’ve put together 5 important tips you can make a note of that could help you beat the crowds and also prevent a car accident.

  1. Make Flexible Plans And Leave Early

As far as possible avoid hitting the road during peak traffic hours. Better to leave early than you had planned. It helps to make flexible travel plans, especially when everyone is trying to beat the rush. If you can, rearrange your plans and try to drive during off-peak times. Not only would you save time from being stuck in traffic but will also reduce the probability of being involved in a car crash.

2. Be Aware Of The State’s Driving Laws

Every state has its own laws regarding cell phone use in vehicles while driving. It can vary from one state totally banning the use of cell phones to some states banning only handheld mobile phones. Knowing which law applies where can save you a lot of unnecessary trouble and time waste. If you are not aware of the laws of the state you are driving in, you can check out the laws here: https://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/cellular-phone-use-and-texting-while-driving-laws.aspx

3. Avoid Driving If You’ve Consumed Alcohol

Unfortunately, alcohol consumption is responsible for many car crash fatalities during Thanksgiving. The proof is in the significant increase in alcohol sales before the holiday.

Though AAA issues warnings about drinking and driving and highlights to the public its potential dangers, a lot of people behind the wheel choose to ignore the warnings. If you know you will be consuming alcohol, have someone who is not consuming any grown-up beverages drive the vehicle, or better still stay off the road.

4. Carry Out A Maintenance Check

Before you get behind the wheel and hit the road, ensure you perform a thorough maintenance check on your car. You can begin with checking your car’s engine, fluids, battery, and brakes, followed by inspecting the tires for pressure and tread depth, headlights, wiper blades, and turn signal.

If you think something needs a repair, get it done immediately. Do not let it wait till you hit the road. Address all safety issues before your trip and only once you are satisfied, move ahead with your road trip.

5. Keep An Emergency Kit Handy

Any good reason why you should not have an emergency kit in your car? If you still don’t have one with you during road trips you absolutely must add one. You can opt for the pre-made kits or you can also customize your own.

The following are some of the essentials that every car emergency kit must include:

  • Drinking water and snacks/snack bars
  • Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
  • Cell phone chargers
  • Blankets
  • Warm clothes
  • Extra pair of footwear
  • Jumper cables
  • Ice-scraper
  • Small shovel
  • Shop rags or paper towels
  • Basic tools

Get Your Injuries Examined Right away

If despite following all the safety tips you or your loved ones still get injured in a car accident, it is prudent to visit a car accident clinic in Miami Florida immediately following the accident. Do not wait it out. The more you delay, the worse your injuries get.

To know more or schedule a consultation with our car accident injury specialists in Miami, you can call 305-928-2828 today.

Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy Thanksgiving!



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