At this time of year, holiday events many of us are on the road. Whether we’re dropping children off at holiday events at school or driving to family homes for holiday dinners, we’re spending more time in the car. This can lead to an increase in car accidents in Homestead for a few reasons:
- Holidays are busy times, so we’re often distracted and fatigued
- When we’re trying to fit in many events, we may be rushing, which can encourage speeding
- Alcohol served at holiday events can make DUIs a risk
- When visiting friends and family, we may be heading to destinations we’re less familiar with
- Others are also on the road, taking care of holiday errands, which leads to more congestion and traffic
- We’re often taking children along and they can get bored on long trips, causing distractions
How to Stay Safe During the Holidays in Homestead
Even with the risks, there are ways to stay safe when traveling this holiday season:
- Have a get-home-safe plan: Make sure you have a plan to get home safely, even if you decide to drink. Have money for a cab or a hotel room or arrange a designated driver. Consider using an app which allows you to order and pay for a cab, so you don’t have to have extra cash on hand.
- Leave the driving to someone else: There are more options for transportation than ever before. Use ride share, buses, trains, taxis, or other modes of transportation to get to and from your destinations. This can reduce congestion overall as well as your own risk.
- Use technology: You can use apps to call up a cab or to remind you when you need to leave for a holiday dinner. Use apps to stay on track with your schedule and to help you track your route before you get in the car. Just remember to put away your devices when you’re behind the wheel.
- Think of your passengers: If you’re going to see friends and family, you may be taking children or even pets along for the trip. Long trips can be tough on kids, so make sure they have toys or games in the car to keep them occupied. If you’re traveling with a pet, keep them in a kennel, where they will not interfere with your driving or get stressed.
- Take on less during the holidays: Consider removing anything non-essential from your holiday list. This will leave you more time for proper sleep and will allow you to get from one event to another without rushing or distraction. Less to do lets you enjoy each event more and allows you to be less fatigued, which makes you a safer driver.
- Offer to be a designated driver: Being a designated driver lets you help others and can reduce the risk of DUIs on local streets.
If you have been injured in a traffic collision in Homestead or anywhere in South Florida, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation. Our legal team has more than six decades of combined experience and we have offices in Homestead, Hollywood, and Miami to serve you better. We may even be able to visit your home or hospital room if you cannot travel to our offices to meet with us.