The Heightened Risk of Car Accidents During the Holidays

No matter how early in the year you begin getting ready for the holidays, there never seems to be enough time. Between holiday parties, Christmas gift shopping, school performances, and other obligations, you may feel like you live in your car. Unfortunately, the same is true for many other people in and around West Chester—and that means more people on the road than you’re used to. There’s an increase in car accidents around every major holiday, and it’s important to know why this happens and how you can protect yourself.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car crash, let the team at Kingbird Legal help you. Call us at 484-289-4880 to set up a consultation now.

Dense Traffic and Congestion on the Roads

A big part of the increase in accidents is traffic congestion. Everyone is just as busy as you are, and that means that the roads are packed. People are rushing and taking unnecessary risks, making every trip a little more dangerous for everyone. Even a trip to the local shopping mall can be fraught with risk as shoppers battle over the last available parking spot.

It’s especially important to plan for dense traffic on major travel days around the holidays. This includes the holidays themselves and the couple of days before and after. Christmas is one of the most dangerous holidays for car travel, per the National Safety Council. In 2022, the NSC predicted 346 preventable fatalities in the Christmas Day period, which went from December 23 to December 26. Plan to leave early and give yourself extra time, and if possible, avoid the days immediately before and after the holidays.

Inclement Weather

Christmas weather can be unpredictable, especially around Washington DC. When the roads are slick and visibility is marred by blowing snow, it’s not uncommon to see cars in the ditches as you drive on the highway. Even those who have lived in snowy areas their whole lives seem to go through a readjustment period during the first snow of the season. Make sure you have everything you need for safe winter driving, including working windshield wipers, an ice scraper, and warm clothes if your car breaks down. When the weather is unpredictable, give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination and choose main roads over back roads that are often last to be cleaned.

Substance Use

Holiday parties can be the highlight of the Christmas season, but they can also lead to an increase in impaired drivers on the road. When partygoers celebrate with champagne and eggnog, they may overestimate their driving skills and try to get themselves home. These unsafe choices lead to preventable injuries and deaths every single year. If you are planning on drinking at holiday parties, have a plan in place before you reach your destination. Maybe you’ll carpool with a designated driver or turn to Uber for a safe trip home. Never leave these decisions to the end of the night, because that makes it far more likely you’ll take unnecessary risks.

High Stress Levels

As fun as the holidays can be, they can also be incredibly stressful. People may be driving while stressing out over holiday finances, worrying about figuring out the holiday visit schedule and trying to figure out how they’re going to get everything done in time. What does this mean for you? It means that you’re likely sharing the roads with plenty of distracted drivers. They’re less likely to be focused on the road, and those who are focused on the road are more likely to react to delays or obstacles with aggression or even rage. In all of these situations, your chances of being involved in a serious accident are significantly higher. While you can’t control what other people do, you can ensure that you only drive when you have the mental capacity to do so safely.

Injured in a Crash? Contact Kingbird Legal Now

The sooner you connect with the team at Kingbird Legal, the sooner we can begin working on your case. Set up a free consultation right away by calling us at 484-289-4880 or filling out our online contact form.