When fall approaches each year, a nip in the air means a rather cold change of seasons will be soon underway. From the hot and humid days of summer to the cooler days of fall and frigid days of winter, each seasonal change brings something unique to enjoy. Millions of Americans travel for Thanksgiving in the late fall and Christmas and other winter holidays in the early winter.
Arnold Insurance cares about our customers and everyone else who shares the road with them. We prepared some points below on holiday road safety to provide a brief refresher course on preparing for the potentially challenging driving conditions ahead:
We know you are a good driver and do everything in your power to keep yourself and others safe. Here are some key driving fundamentals to remember before you head out to a relative’s home for family dinner:
Drowsy driving is a serious matter. After 18 consecutive hours without sleep, your body reflexes are just as impaired as they would be with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05 percent. Once you have gone 24 hours in a row without sleep, your reflexes are as impaired as someone considered legally intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent. However, you do not have to go 18 hours without sleep to experience decreased driving skills.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that police across the country take 100,000 calls related to drowsy driving every year. Of that number, 71,000 people sustain minor to serious injuries, and 1,550 die. These crashes also cost an estimated $12.5 billion dollars in economic loss. If you feel even a little bit sleepy, be sure to get more rest before you get behind the wheel.
Winter weather is highly unpredictable. Fortunately, you can stay on top of it to the best of your ability by signing up for weather alerts on your smartphone. Be sure to watch the weather report on the local news before you head out as well. If you start driving and run into severe weather, pull over or try to find lodging until it passes. Additionally, keep a winter survival kit in your car that includes the following:
A proactive approach to car maintenance is always better than the stress and inconvenience of being out of service while traveling for the holidays. We encourage you to take your car in for an oil change and tune-up before hitting the road for any extended holiday travel. Be sure to follow up with any repair recommendations your service technician makes to avoid having to arrange for an emergency tow and car repair later.
No one likes to think they might get into an accident, especially at a time of year that is supposed to be happy. Here at AIC, we hope your holiday travels go off without a hitch. Checking your auto insurance coverage before you head out is always a good idea to avoid an unpleasant surprise if you do get into an accident or experience car trouble.
We hope these travel safety tips have been helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact our team at Arnold Insurance if we can be of further help as you prepare for holiday travel.