Memorial Day Weekend: Safety Tips

Memorial Day weekend is almost here and over 34 million Americans will travel in excess of 50 miles for the Memorial Day holiday.  Unfortunately, all those cars on the roads means more accidents.  The risk of dying in a car accident over Memorial Day weekend is four times greater than a regular weekend.  In fact, Memorial Day weekend is the most dangerous holiday weekend to be on the road according to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration.  Here are some tips to help ensure you get to your destination safely:

1. Breaking down on the side of the road is a dangerous, so make your vehicle is current on its service.
2. Check the inflation and tread on your tires.  The correct pressure for your tire is in your vehicle’s owner’s manual or on a sticker in the inside of the driver’s door.  Experts recommend always inflating to the pressure recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer and NOT the pressure on the tire itself.  To determine the level of wear, either look at the built-in wear indicators or do the penny test.   Put a penny in the tire tread with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you.  If you can see the top of Honest Abe’s head, it is time to replace your tires.
3. Buckle up – everyone and every time. For children using child safety seats or boosters, make sure they are installed properly.   Click here to find a free child safety seat inspection site near you.
4. Long distance drives with children can be challenging. Plan ahead to keep them occupied so you are not distracted by crying or other behavior.  Bring toys, books and snacks.   Schedule plenty of rest breaks.
5. Long distance drives can also be boring, but do not be tempted to entertain yourself with texts, emails, videos or other distractions. Distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunken driving.
6. Speaking of drunk driving, hold off on celebrating the holiday weekend until you arrive at your destination.
7. It can be tempting to speed in order to get to your destination faster. When temptation calls, remind yourself that speeding is a contributing factor in roughly 1/3 of all fatal accidents.  And while less important, your gas mileage will improve if you drive the speed limit.
8. With the warmer weather comes more pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. Be on the lookout for them and share the road.
9. Check today for any recalls related to your vehicle. You can do this by going to nhtsa.gov/recalls.
10. Beware of road rage.  Leave yourself plenty of time to get to your destination so you do not get frazzled and angry.   If you find yourself the victim of another driver’s road rage, do not engage.  Pull over or take other action to get away from the aggressive driver or call 911 if necessary.

We hope everyone enjoys a safe and fun holiday weekend.  If you should need us, give us a call anytime at 615-742-4880 (Brentwood) or 615-867-9900 (Murfreesboro) or 866-812-8787 (toll-free) for a free consultation.  Our top-rated attorneys handle all accident cases on a contingency basis so we only get paid if we recover money for you.