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Memorial Day Safe Driving Tips

Wilmington car accident lawyers want you to drive safely this holiday weekend.Are you celebrating the unofficial start of summer by traveling to your favorite vacation spot, or to a family barbeque in another state? If so, you are not alone. Memorial Day weekend has become one of the most heavily travelled weekends of the year. The American Automobile Association (AAA) expects 36.6 million drivers on the road over the holiday weekend.  That is an increase of 4.7 percent over the 2017 numbers.

The following are some simple driving tips to ensure a safe holiday weekend:

Properly Maintain Your Vehicle

Preventing a serious motor vehicle accident often can be as simple as properly maintaining your car or truck. By making sure your tires are properly inflated, your windshield wipers are functioning, windshield fluid is adequate, and the brake fluid is filled, you significantly reduce the risk of a car accident. Working headlights and taillights also are important for any extended road trip. Avoid letting a gas tank get too low.

Part of proper maintenance should also be checking to make sure that you understand how to use all of your vehicle’s safety features, such as the adaptive cruise control, the blind spot warning system, and backup cameras.

Do Not Mix Alcohol and Driving

Driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol or drugs is never a good idea. With an average of 30 deaths attributed to drunk driving accidents each day, the risks of getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after drinking are well documented. Since many Memorial Day celebrations include alcohol, plan ahead to stay the night or designate a sober driver to ensure that no one drives after drinking even one alcoholic beverage.

Avoid Drowsy Driving

Drivers must be aware of their level of tiredness before operating their vehicles. Drowsy driving can result in serious accidents when a driver even temporarily closes their eyes or loses focus. Watch for cars drifting into the shoulder or into other traffic lanes, as these are usually signs of drowsy driving.

To avoid becoming a drowsy driver yourself, get plenty of rest before traveling, drink lots of water, and take frequent breaks while driving long distances.

Apply Good Driving Practices

In situations where road traffic is heavier than usual, relying on good driving practices becomes essential. Safe drivers ensure themselves and their passengers are wearing seatbelts. Over 150 lives would be saved alone with proper seatbelt use.

Leave plenty of room when following another vehicle; follow posted speed limits; and avoid distractions, including cell phones, while operating your vehicle. Even a hands-free device can pose serious safety risks, due to distracted driving.

The use of child restraint safety seats is another good driving practice that can prevent serious injuries. Proper child restraint systems must be appropriate for the child’s height, weight and age.

According to the National Safety Council, injuries and fatalities that occur during holiday weekends continue to rise every year on the average of 6-14 percent. While such trends continue, drivers should apply all of these safe driving tips this Memorial Day weekend.

Wilmington Car Accident Lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Want You to Drive Safely This Holiday Weekend

Even the safest drivers may find themselves involved in a serious motor vehicle accident. If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, an experienced Wilmington car accident lawyer at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. will help you recover maximum compensation for your injuries. With offices conveniently located in Wilmington and Georgetown, Delaware, our attorneys are proud to represent car accident victims throughout Delaware. To schedule your free confidential consultation call us at 302-656-5445 or submit an online inquiry form.