Thanksgiving is always a wonderful way to start the holiday season and is the perfect time to be with family and friends. However, as many people may be venturing out of town to be with their loved ones, the long Thanksgiving weekend can often be one of the more dangerous times to be out on the road. The National Safety Commission reports that thousands of injuries and nearly 400 automobile fatalities annually result from this November holiday due to icy roads, inclement weather, heavy traffic, and other hazards.
According to WREX-TV, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that all non-emergency road work will be suspended beginning at 3 p.m. November 23 to help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. Also, IDOT is providing advance notice of lane closures to help motorists plan their turkey day road trip. Thousands of Illinois motorists are expected to be on the road this long weekend, so IDOT urges travelers to slow down and obey posted speed limits to help keep you, your family, and other drivers safe on the highway.
Here are some other travel tips to keep you safe this weekend:
- Plan your travel route in advance, and designate a fellow passenger to be the navigator so you don’t have to fumble with a map or the GPS while behind the wheel.
- Make sure your vehicle is in excellent working order before you hit the road. Checking your vehicle’s tire pressure and fluids can help avoid unexpected surprises.
- To avoid dangerous driver fatigue, get a good night’s rest the night before you travel. Also, be sure to pull off the road to take a short nap or let another licensed driver take over if you’re feeling sleepy while driving.
- Most importantly, be safe! Avoid distracted driving by giving your cell phone to a passenger, and make sure everyone is wearing their safety belt and children are properly secured in car seats.
During this long weekend, it is important to take necessary safety precautions to help keep you and your family safe, but unfortunately this cannot completely prevent an accident. Other drivers on the road may act in a negligent or careless way, putting you in danger. If you have been involved in an auto accident that was caused by another’s negligence, the Chicago car accident lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm can help. For a free consultation, please call (312) 252-1488.
A few of the more disastrous motor coach crashes of the past 10 years have not been included in statistics of fatalities; thus, the failure of the NHTSA to track and report all accidents has given the government and the public the impression that these buses are much safer than they are. In addition, it has prevented efforts to enforce stricter safety regulations and standards for these large motor vehicles.