Corning Holiday Driving Safety

The holiday season is a time for friends and families to celebrate and enjoy each others’ company. This means that many people will be traveling distances long and short in order to spend time with their loved ones over the coming month. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that driving during the holidays can be dangerous and that the risk of fatal accidents is likely to increase over these periods of time. No matter where you are going to celebrate, it is important to make sure that you get there safely. Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and all roadway users can improve their safety by being aware of some of the common ways that driving can be dangerous during the holiday season.

DUI

One of the largest reasons that holiday driving can be dangerous is because of an increased number of drunk drivers on the road. According to NHTSA, December is a critical period enforcement, and an average of 300 people in the US lose their lives in DUI accidents during the holiday season every year. For this reason, NHTSA operates an annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign in order to raise public awareness around the dangers of driving while impaired.

Driving while under the influence dramatically reduces your ability to avoid an accident and can also cause people to make unsafe decisions like speeding or performing dangerous turns. Not only are drunk drivers more likely to be involved in a crash, but crashes involving intoxicated motorists are much more likely to involve a severe or fatal injury.

Speeding

Many people think that driving over the speed limit isn’t always dangerous and during the holidays, drivers are often rushing to get where they are going. However, speeding is listed as the primary cause of more traumatic car accidents in California than any other factor. Driving vehicles at high speeds mean that drivers have less control. Speeding drivers frequently spin out when going through turns or are unable to avoid a hazard in the road. Furthermore, injuries tend to be more severe the faster a vehicle is traveling.

Night Driving

Driving at night can be difficult, and using the road at night can be very dangerous for pedestrians. However, earlier sunsets and holiday dinners mean that many drivers and pedestrians will be traveling at night. For this reason, it is important to follow standard safety procedures for night time travel. Drivers should make sure their headlights are operating correctly and pay extra attention to their surroundings, always making sure to signal and stop for intersections well ahead of time. Pedestrians should always wear bright clothing at night and make sure to walk in a way that is visible and predictable to passing traffic.

Determining Fault

When an accident leaves someone with injuries, they can often claim payments from negligent parties by filing a personal injury claim. However, determining fault in an accident can sometimes be complicated. To learn a bit more about finding out who is responsible for a crash, watch the below video. If you would like advice about your specific situation, it is best to get in touch with an experienced Corning personal injury lawyer right away.

More by Ed Smith, Corning Personal Injury Lawyer

Corning Personal Injury Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Corning personal injury lawyer. Crashes are often serious. If you were injured in a vehicle accident, speak with me to receive free, friendly legal advice by calling either (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also message me through my website.

I’ve been helping residents of Corning with claiming fair settlements and verdicts for their wrongful death and serious personal injury since 1982.

I am a standing Million Dollar Advocates Forum member. This means I’m part of a forum of trial lawyers who have previously won or settled a case worth one million dollars.

The clients I’ve worked with have written reviews of my practice on:

Corning Holiday Driving Safety: Ed Smith

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Corning Holiday Driving Safety