Whether you’re heading to take care of some holiday shopping at small businesses like Calico or Celia’s Boutique in historic downtown New Bedford or hitting Providence Place Mall before catching “A Christmas Carol” at Trinity Rep in downtown Providence, you will likely encounter dreaded holiday traffic full of distracted drivers on busy routes like Route 18, I-195 and Route 24. A distracted driving car accident will not only ruin the holidays for you and your family, but can leave the victim(s) suffering from painful whiplash type injury, life-changing catastrophic personal injury or even accidental death. Be aware of these common types of bad driving habits to help to avoid car accidents and auto-pedestrian accidents this 2018 holiday season.
Avoid these four most dangerous holiday driving hazards:
1. Distracted Driving – Distracted drivers are the number one cause of motor vehicle accidents during the holiday season. A distracted driver will multitask while behind the wheel, trying to save time by texting to make plans, searching for sales and store hours, or trying to finish up tasks for work or home while on the go. This distracted behavior can result in anything from a fender bender to a more serious t-bone or head on collision.
2. Impaired Driving – Holiday dinners, parties and celebrations typically involve consumption of alcohol. An increase in the number of car accidents caused by drunk drivers during the winter holidays has been well-documented by law enforcement, and the loss of life resulting from impaired driving is well-established. Driving under the influence of marijuana and prescription medications can also cause driver impairment. Always designate a sober driver or use a taxi service, Uber or Lyft to travel to and from your holiday parties.
3. Aggressive Driving – The holidays can bring increased pressures, the stress created by trying to do too much in a short time span. Drivers often react to these pressures by driving too fast for conditions, making aggressive lane changes, failing to yield right-of-way, and generally disregarding the needs and safety of others using the road.
4. Drowsy Driving – Increased demands and activities during the winter holidays often mean significantly reduced sleep schedules. According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, people who slept 6-7 hours a night were twice as likely to be involved in a crash as those sleeping 8 hours or more, while people sleeping less than 5 hours increased their risk four to five times.
Make Driving Priority Number One And Drive Defensively
The key to avoiding distracted driving is to make driving your first priority. Those other tasks can wait. Try to plan accordingly, leaving enough time to manage your affairs while you’re NOT behind the wheel! Drive safely out there to help assure that you and the people you share the road with have a safe and happy holiday season.
D+Z: Experienced Car Accident Attorneys In Massachusetts & Rhode Island
If you or a loved one have been the victim of any type of a car accident, please contact us to speak with an experienced attorney. Dussault & Zatir P.C. has lawyers on call at +1-800-542-4LAW to answer your personal injury questions. With offices in New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton, Massachusetts, as well as an office in Providence, Rhode Island, if you’ve been injured, our lawyers are here to fight for you.
The Law Offices of Dussault & Zatir
*The above is not to be considered as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws which apply may differ from state to state.