Driving is inherently dangerous, but there are some times when it’s more dangerous than other times. Unfortunately, as fun as the holidays are, these are some of the riskiest times of the year to be on the road. Keep reading for some tips by a personal injury lawyer in Cheyenne, Wyoming about the worst risks, how to avoid them, and what to do if you can’t.
What Are the Risks of Driving During the Holiday Season, and How Can You Stay Safe?
When it comes to the holidays, there are some special hazards that are more serious than other times of the year. Most of the danger revolves around a couple of specific things: it’s easier to be distracted, more people are on the road impaired, the weather is bad, there are extra out-of-towners around, and drivers are exhausted and under pressure.
Distracted Driving
When we think of distracted driving these days, we normally think of the cell phone, and that is the biggest distraction. People are always on their phones, and it’s difficult to imagine how it could be any worse this time of year! Yet it often is. For one thing, you have many people on the roads trying to reach relatives’ homes that they don’t visit a lot or on their way to parties or meet-ups at other locations which they don’t normally visit. This means a lot more distraction with maps, phone calls, and texts so that everybody can sort out where they’re going and who they’re meeting, and at what time.
But distracted driving is not just about cell phones. Anything that distracts you from the road is distracted driving (and the police can charge a person with distracted driving for anything that does this, even if it’s legal, like fiddling with dials on the dash or eating). Because the family is often driving around together on their way to events or talking through holiday plans (and possibly holiday arguments), it’s much easier to be distracted by what you’re thinking about and the people in your vehicle than normal.
Impaired Driving
Whether it’s all the wine at Thanksgiving, a Christmas office party, a year-end celebration, or something else, the holidays often involve consuming a lot of alcohol. For some people, it also means consuming drugs. That means that, typically, there are far more impaired drivers on the roads during the winter holidays than any other time of the year.
This is a highly dangerous situation, and you never want to be part of the problem. Always have a designated driver if you’re going with a group to any party, and if you can’t, then arrange to have a rideshare or taxi pick you up. If you plan this out in advance, you won’t have to worry about getting a vehicle when you need it or feel tempted to drive when you shouldn’t. And remember that there are more impaired people driving at night than during the day, so if you can avoid having to drive at night, you’ll avoid a lot of this risk in particular.
Bad Weather
Winter is just the time of bad weather, and there’s very little we can do about that. Obviously, no one can control the weather, but since ice and snow can really make things dangerous, it’s at all possible to avoid driving in these conditions, don’t. If you have to be somewhere, plan your routes out in advance and give yourself plenty of time so you can get there safely. And make sure you’ve got snow tires on the car, the brakes are in good shape, all your light bulbs are in good condition, and you’ve got cold-weather-appropriate oil and windshield washer fluid.
Out-of-Towners
During the holidays, a lot of people leave home to visit relatives elsewhere. That means you might find yourself the out-of-towner in an unfamiliar place, or you might find yourself driving around your normal route with numerous people who don’t really know where they’re going. Remember that this will be an issue, and plan extra time into your commutes to allow for that visitor who doesn’t know where they’re going and is driving around slowly looking for a house number.
If you are the visitor, again, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going so you don’t feel panicked and don’t make any stupid mistakes as you drive. And if there are any spots in your own town where you know that the normal flow of traffic or signage is confusing, remember that while the locals might know exactly what to do in that spot, a visitor won’t.
Pressure and Exhaustion
People are just exhausted during the holidays; plus, we all feel a lot of extra pressure. There’s pressure to please family, pressure to work harder to get that end-of-year bonus, pressure to get work done before everyone takes a break, the pressure of extra parties and events with the kids that eat up your time, and just the worries of the financial pressures that hit us all.
There’s very little that you can do about the pressure or the exhaustion other than to avoid driving when you know you’re too tired. But what you can do is show extra grace to other drivers. Assume that they are all as tired and exhausted as you are, and give people the benefit of the doubt. Keep that road rage under control and focus on the important thing: that everybody gets home safely.
Avoiding the Risks
Some of the things that you can do to protect yourself are quite obvious, like not driving in a snowstorm or when you have had too much to drink. We’ve also mentioned the need to be aware of other people’s exhaustion, distraction, and lack of familiarity with the driving culture of your town. But there are a few other things you can do, and most of them have to do with paying extra attention and driving defensively.
When you come off a stop light, for example, don’t just slam on the gas as soon as it turns green. Stop for a blink and look very carefully in both directions to make sure no one is going to run the light. Drive assuming that other people have not noticed you and will not see you as you make maneuvers: in other words, assuming that 100% of the responsibility for your safety lies with you, and you can’t depend on any other driver. Allow yourself an extra 10 minutes for every trip, no matter where you’re going. And consider getting yourself a dash cam so that you always have a record of what happened if you do have an accident.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer in Cheyenne, Wyoming
If you do get in an accident, call a personal injury lawyer in Cheyenne, Wyoming. A personal injury lawyer can help you defend yourself and protect your rights in cases you need to bring a claim for damages. Wyoming has a modified comparative fault rule, and this means everyone who’s been injured can get compensation, less the same percentage as their fault. If you are 30% at fault, then your total damages would be reduced by 30%. For this reason, it’s very important to calculate exactly who is liable and to what degree. Your lawyer will help you do this and protect you from unfair accusations of fault.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, don’t wait to call the Ochs Law Firm as soon as possible for help.
