We are halfway through the holidays and it’s time to talk about driving safety. Before you hit the road to head to grandma’s house, have Benton Road Auto Repair give your vehicle the once-over to help avoid a mechanical breakdown. Once you hit the road, keep these six safety tips in mind.
Think Ahead
Plan for your trip well in advance and utilize all the tools available to you. Check your route for road construction and other hazards and get the weather report for the entire trip. This helps you reroute your trip if necessary due to road work or dangerous, inclement weather.
Keep Alert
Get plenty of rest the night before the trip. Make frequent stops to get out of the car and move around. Staying alert during the holiday drive is crucial to your safety. According to the NHTSA, there were 72,000 accidents, 44,000 injured persons, and 800 deaths during the holiday seasons from 2009 to 2013.
Obey Traffic Laws
Leave in plenty of time to make it to your destination so you aren’t tempted to speed. Driving fast in rainy or snowy weather is just asking for an accident. It’s also asking for a speeding ticket. You increase your chance of an accident by two percent each time you increase your speed by one point.
Watch Other Drivers
You may be driving the speed limit and feeling alert and in control but other drivers might not be. Always drive defensively during holiday driving. Keep your eyes on what’s going on in front, behind and to the sides of you and steer clear – literally – of erratic drivers, which leads to…
Drive Sober
The erratic driver might be impaired by drugs or alcohol but you should never be. If you plan to enjoy holiday cocktails or wine with dinner or during a holiday party, stay the night at grandma’s house or a hotel. Don’t drive impaired. It’s not worth the risk during the holidays or at any other time of year.
Don’t Drive Distracted
Finally, don’t let yourself get distracted while you’re driving. Turn off your cell phone and keep the holiday music low. Have the kids turn off the sound on their handheld devices or wear headphones. Better yet, have everyone put down their devices to enjoy the scenery and quality family time.
Again, Benton Road Auto Repair would be happy to inspect your vehicle before you get on the holiday roads. We are located in Bossier City, LA, and you can set up an appointment by calling us today. Happy holidays everyone!
