The heavy travel period that Thanksgiving ushers in is nearly here. Every year during this time the roads become clogged with tourists and travelers and snow birds – and this year will be no different. There is a lot of stress involved in getting to your destination – and your turkey dinner. The more hurried you are, the more you risk personal injury on the roads in Fort Lauderdale.
According to AAA “driving remains the most popular mode of travel for Thanksgiving.” The vast majority – more than 89 percent – of holiday travelers will drive this Thanksgiving. Last year, AAA projected that 48.7 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from home for the holiday, an increase of one million travelers compared with the year before. This represented a 1.9 percent increase over 2015, and the most Thanksgiving travelers since 2007 (the Thanksgiving holiday travel period this year encompasses Wednesday, Nov. 22, to Sunday, Nov. 26).
So everyone should take a deep breath … and put some forethought into travel plans this holiday season. For one, the day you leave makes a big difference, and according to Travel & Leisure, drivers in the Miami area should target Thanksgiving morning and Sunday at 6 a.m. for heading out onto the road. You want to “Arrive Alive!” to your destinations, says the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), which offers numerous driving tips for families to make sure they avoid accidents and personal injury this holiday season.
Personal injury from a Fort Lauderdale car accident can affect all aspects of a family’s life, from financial to emotional, preventing a return to work and every-day activities. Personal injury litigation attorneys have seen the devastation caused to people following motor vehicle accidents and have also learned that taking precautions can keep you in control on the highways, during a time of year when other drivers may be out of control
These tips include:
Drive sober. This piece of advice should go without saying, but at the same time, cannot be stressed enough. Alcohol in your system will impair all of the important skills needed to drive safely, “such as judgement, reaction, vision and concentration,” according to FLHSMV. Always plan ahead.
Remember tire safety. Your vehicle and its occupants are relying on the integrity of the tires on which they are riding. Tire pressure, tread depth and ensuring that there is a spare tire should all be checked beforehand. And remember: Overloading your vehicle can result in tire wear and blowouts.
Seat belts for all. Even the backseat passengers in your vehicle should be wearing seat belts, considered the vehicle’s most important safety feature. Florida law mandates that all drivers, all front seat passengers and all passengers under the age of 18 wear seat belts or the appropriate child restraints.
Register Emergency Contact Information. FLHSMV urges all drivers to register with the ECI, which is a secure system allowing law enforcement, nationwide, to contact designated family or friends in response to an emergency situation.
Watch your speeds. From the open highway to back roads, speed limits need to be obeyed. In Florida, the limit is never over 70 mph, no matter which highway you’re traveling.
Other tips that are good to follow involve packing the vehicle, especially cargo boxes on top of the vehicle, as well as any baskets or bags that enable the transport of equipment such as bicycles, paddles, boat accessories and other things. These storage systems, most of which are on top of the vehicle as part of a rack – with some on the back of the vehicle – are a great way to carry gear that won’t fit in the car.
However, drivers need to be cautious and wary of the limitations of such systems, such as their height, the noise and rattling they can cause and whether they can sustain high winds. Weight limits on roof racks range from 75-250 pounds, which means that overpacking these could lead to vehicle damage and an accident. When you pack the rack, make sure the weight is distributed evenly – in addition, adding weight to a vehicle’s roof creates the potential for swaying while driving and may also equate to lower gas mileage. Make sure all items are anchored and that you have full visibility of the road, from the side and the back.
Worried about getting gas along your travel route? Always plan ahead and know where your rest areas are – running out of gas along a highway can be a dangerous situation, especially along heavily traveled roadways.
According to AAA, Gas Buddy lets you see gas prices around the country at a glance using a color-coded map indicating the average price for regular unleaded gasoline.
AAA states that, generally, you’ll pay the least for gas in Texas, Midwest states including Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Virginia and Oklahoma and Southeastern states including the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia (Florida is slightly higher.)
Will you need to get to an airport to fly out for the holiday? AAA states that Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports are expected to be among the ten busiest in the country over this Thanksgiving holiday, so make sure you leave plenty of time to safely get where you’re going.
Remember: call *FHP (*347) to report intoxicated or aggressive drivers, or if your vehicle breaks down and you need assistance. To request immediate emergency services, dial 911.
We wish everyone safe travels during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday – plan ahead, plan smart and enjoy your time!
