Tips for Safe Holiday Traveling
The holiday season is here, and with the Christmas trees and holiday music comes frantic shoppers, holiday travelers, and an increased risk of injury. If you’ll be traveling this holiday season, whether to your relatives’ a few miles away or a longer distance, staying safe should be a top priority. Here are some tips for traveling safely in Las Vegas around Christmas and Thanksgiving–
Take Notice of the Increase in Traffic and Respond Accordingly
According to KTNV.com, more than 54 million people this year are expected to travel distances of 50 miles or more for the holidays. This means that there’s bound to be more traffic on the road, and a lot of the drivers around you may be unfamiliar with the area. Statistics show that more traffic means an increased risk of accident, especially when drivers aren’t sure where they’re going. Simply being aware of the influx of traffic–and the increased risk of accident as such–is smart, and should encourage you to drive a little safer, take less-trafficked routes when possible, and exercise patience.
Be Prepared for Snow
If you live in Las Vegas and will be traveling outside of the City of Lights, remember that while Vegas rarely gets snow, wherever it is you’re driving to may not have such mild weather. Check the forecast in advance and ensure that you and your vehicle are prepared to encounter any adverse weather conditions you encounter. Make sure you have an ice scraper handy, and that your car has recently been serviced (fluid levels are full, tire pressure is good, etc.). Even if you opt to travel by other means, it doesn’t mean weather will have no impact on your safety. If you fly into a part of the country with adverse weather conditions & snow, take care while walking outside on icy or slippery surfaces. It can be easy to forget how quickly injuries can happen from slipping & falling after becoming used to not having these kind of conditions at home.
Traveling Safely in Las Vegas Around Thanksgiving & Chrismas
If you’re not leaving Las Vegas for Thanksgiving or Christmas, chances are that you’ll still be driving around this time. Keep in mind that many tourists flock to the city during the holiday season, which means not only will there be more cars on the road, but more pedestrians out and about, too. Indeed, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the Thanksgiving weekend alone is expected to bring an estimated 300,000 visitors to Vegas, and that Vegas has been ranked as the number five travel destination. Slow your speed, remember that pedestrians aren’t always paying attention, and put away any distractions to reduce your risk of an accident!
Holiday Traveling Safety Behind the Wheel
Finally, no matter the time of year, exercising basic safe driving techniques is important. During the holiday season when accidents are more common–there’s more traffic, more unfamiliar drivers, poorer weather, and more drunk drivers on the road–being safe is especially important. Traveling safely for the holidays means always driving distraction-free, having a designated driver planned if you’ll be imbibing this holiday season, driving at a speed that is safe for conditions, always ensuring everyone in your vehicle is buckled up, and planning your route in advance. Also, all the holiday traffic can be maddening – have a strategy in place for how to effectively manage road rage if this is something that you’re susceptible to.
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season
We hope that the above Thanksgiving and Christmas safe traveling tips for Las Vegas are helpful, and that you have a happy and safe holiday season, wherever it is you’ll be celebrating. We know that tips for safe holiday traveling aren’t always adhered to by other drivers on the road – if you’re in an accident this holiday season, our lawyers at the Ladah Law Firm, PLLC want to help you. Please reach out to us at 702-252-0055 or send us a message to schedule a free consultation.