Road Safety Tips for Holiday Travel
Every holiday season, millions of Americans travel to various holiday festivities. For many, this means driving long distances to visit family members and friends. Unfortunately, congested traffic conditions increase the risk of hazards, resulting in thousands of preventable accidents every year.
The last thing you want is a car accident derailing your winter celebrations. Remember these safety tips as you head out on the road this holiday season.
Prepare Your Vehicle
Before you travel, ensure your vehicle is ready for the journey ahead. You don’t want to worry about being stranded in an unknown location. It’s a good idea to replace windshield wipers, top off fluids, and check in on your tires. As an extra precaution, you may also want to schedule a tune-up with your local auto service to ensure all systems are in order. This will help minimize your risk of a sudden breakdown on the road. 
Maintain the Speed Limit
Speeding is a leading cause of car accidents in California. When you exceed the posted speed limit, your stopping distance increases, making it more challenging to react to sudden changes in traffic. It also reduces the effectiveness of safety features like anti-lock brakes, increasing the risk of collisions. Protect yourself and your passengers by maintaining the speed limit and changing lanes if other drivers attempt to tailgate you.
Use Hands-Free Devices
Using your phone during long drives can be tempting, but this puts everyone at risk. According to California law, drivers cannot use a handheld device to text or call others while operating a motor vehicle. It’s best to set up your navigation before you leave and only use your device hands-free on the road. Removing cell phone distractions will significantly reduce your risk of becoming involved in a car accident this winter.
Avoid Driving While Impaired
As you partake in festivities this season, it’s essential not to get behind the wheel if you drink any alcohol. Even a small amount can impair your judgment, making an accident more likely to occur. A DWI car accident can have lasting consequences, including hefty fines, jail time, and license suspension. If you imbibe, be sure to arrange for a designated driver before you hit the road.
Avoid Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is common during the holiday season when many people travel for long hours to reach their destinations. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 693 fatalities were caused by drowsy driving in 2022. Driving while fatigued is like driving impaired. Motorists have slower reaction times and may “zone out” while driving. This puts you and everyone around you at risk.
To help prevent an accident, ensure you get adequate sleep before a trip. If you do find yourself growing tired, pull over to a safe place for a nap. Even a 20-minute rest has been shown to increase alertness on the road.
Maintain Visibility
As you travel, you may encounter inclement weather such as rain, heavy winds, sleet, snow, or hail. These conditions reduce visibility on the road and make driving more challenging, increasing the risk of an accident. This is especially true if you aren’t used to driving in extreme weather. It’s essential to maintain visibility as much as possible by using your low-beam headlights and/or fog lights. This will also help ensure that other motorists will be able to see your vehicle.
If weather conditions significantly obscure your vision, find a safe spot to pull over, such as a rest stop, and wait for the poor weather to clear. Arriving on time just isn’t worth the risk.
What to Do If an Accident Occurs
Even the safest drivers can’t avoid all car accidents. If you are involved in a car accident, there are some important steps you should take.
- Check for injuries. If you can walk, check in with the other people involved in the accident. If anyone is obviously injured, call 911 immediately.
- File a police report. If law enforcement responds to the scene, file an incident report while the accident is still fresh in your mind. Only provide objective details about the accident. Never admit fault.
- Take photos or videos of the scene. These can help establish events if there is any question about fault or property damage. Try to do this before moving the vehicle unless it prevents a safety hazard to other drivers.
- Collect contact information. Be sure to gather contact information from the other driver, any witnesses to the accident, and the local police department. This is especially important if an accident occurs away from your home city.
- Seek medical care. Even if you didn’t need immediate medical assistance at the time of the crash, it’s important to follow up with your health provider. You could have a hidden injury that won’t show symptoms right away. Be sure to retain a copy of any medical tests, procedures, and treatments, including follow-up care.
- Call an auto accident lawyer. As the victim of a car accident, it’s essential to consult with a lawyer before speaking with the other driver’s insurance company. The insurance representatives will likely try to settle your case for as little as possible. An experienced lawyer will be able to help you protect your rights, navigate the claims process, and negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement.
Your Bakersfield Auto Accident Lawyer
If you experience a car accident this winter, contact the Law Office of Kyle W. Jones. Our law firm assists accident victims throughout Kern County, and we’ll work hard to help you recover the compensation you need to move forward. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with our Bakersfield auto accident attorney today.
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