This holiday season, the American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates that over 46 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles by car. Millions of others will board trains, planes or buses in order to reach their holiday destinations.
If you’re traveling this holiday season, you can help reduce your risk of injury or illness by keeping a few basic safety tips in mind:
- If your seat has a seat belt, use it! During the Thanksgiving holiday in 2012, 60 percent of people killed in vehicle crashes were not wearing a seat belt at the time even though one was available, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. If you’re driving, require your passengers to buckle up, and double-check children’s car seats to make sure they are correctly installed.
- Create a road “safety kit” and keep it in your car. A flashlight, flares, an ice scraper and jumper cables can all prove useful if you’re in an accident or the weather forces you off the road. For longer trips, keep blankets, food and water and a charged cell phone with you in the vehicle as well.
- Plan ahead. Plan your route and program your GPS or prepare your maps before you start your trip. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order, and take care of any basic maintenance before you leave. Keep an eye on the weather: especially in New York, rain can change to ice or snow very quickly.
At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, our experienced New York personal injury attorneys are committed to helping our clients pursue the compensation they deserve after an injury. Contact us today to learn more.