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Tips on Holiday Travel Safety

Torem & Associates

The holiday season is marked by feelings of joy, gratitude, and togetherness as California residents travel to see their family and loved ones. Travel activity peaks during holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), approximately 50 million Americans traveled during the holidays in 2017. About 46 million people traveled by road, and nearly 4 million traveled by airplane.

Due to the raised travel activity during the holidays, the likelihood of transportation accidents increases. According to data collected from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), on average, November was the third-deadliest month of the year from 2006 to 2015. During those 10 years, there was an annual average of 292 traffic fatalities.

We at Torem & Associates wish everyone safe travels during the holiday season. Thus, we are proactively outlining safety tips for your holiday travels.

Keep Your Home Safe

  1. Unplug electronics. Unplugging electronics before leaving for an extended amount of time not only conserves energy and lowers your utility costs, but helps prevent electrical fires if you unwittingly purchased a defective electronics product.
  2. Prevent Christmas trees from drying out. If you have a real, natural Christmas tree, it must be carefully maintained. Real Christmas trees rapidly dry out, creating a major fire hazard. If you plan on leaving during the holidays, consider an artificial tree, or make sure you have a friend or neighbor keep your real tree watered.
  3. Inform your friends and neighbors. If you are leaving town for several days, tell your neighbors about your plans. Your neighbors can keep an eye out for suspicious or hazardous activity around your home.

Tips for Road Travel

  1. Don’t drive drunk or drowsy. In addition to gratitude, the holidays are known for indulgence. Traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations involve preparing elaborate feasts and enjoying libations. This contributes to a medical condition called “postprandial somnolence,” more commonly known as “food coma.” Driving drunk and drowsy have nearly identical risks. Both intoxicated drivers and fatigued drivers experience impaired mental alertness and muscle coordination.
  2. Stay alert for drunk drivers. Even if you successfully maintained sobriety during a holiday celebration, the risks of drunk driving aren’t eliminated. In particular, Thanksgiving may see an increase in DUI occurrences, as we noted in our previous blog. Other drivers may have ignored the last tip and made the unwise decision to drive home drunk or drowsy. Keep an eye out for swerving or drifting cars and maintain a safe distance from them on the road.
  3. Buckle up. Sometimes a seatbelt can feel atypically constricting after a holiday feast. However, temporary convenience shouldn’t outweigh the safety benefits of wearing your seatbelt. Remember: it’s not just a good idea, it’s the law!

Tips for Air Travel

  1. Follow TSA requirements. If you are flying during the holidays, remember to check the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements. The TSA has restrictions for certain carryon items that contain liquids. Frequent flyers should consider applying for a TSA PreCheck to simplify the airport security experience. Check out our blog from last year regarding Thanksgiving travel tips.
  2. Dress in layers. If you are flying to a colder climate, remember to pack accordingly. If you dress in layers during a flight, you can stay warm and save luggage space at the same time.
  3. Do not check in crucial items. While TSA regulations for carryon items are strict, you should not be discouraged from bringing crucial items, such as medication, asthma inhalers, insulin, and epinephrine injection devices. Check the TSA website for guidelines on keeping essential items on your person during flight.

Consult a California Personal Injury Attorney

The ideal holiday should be free of stress and misfortune. However, if you were injured while traveling during the holidays, you should consult a California personal injury attorney regarding your legal remedies. At Torem & Associates, we have been advocating for injured individuals and their families since 1983. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist you through the litigation process.

Call us at (888) 500-5000 or submit an online request for a free initial consultation with our qualified attorneys today.

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