As the holidays draw near, the American Auto Association (AAA) has announced that year-end holiday travel will likely be the busiest on record nationally. AAA projects that 99 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles by car or air this year, this is about four percent more than 2001 when AAA first began keeping records of holiday travel. Visiting friends and family is the main reason for the travel season, however, an improving economy and sharply lower gas prices means that many more Americans will be getting behind the wheel early next week. Christmas is unfortunately also one of the most dangerous holidays to travel on. In Ohio, there were more than 1,200 auto accidents reported during the two-day Christmas holiday period in 2013. The car accident attorneys at O'Connor, Acciani & Levy would like to offer the following holiday travel safety tips to those who intend to drive during the holiday weekend:
- Perform a safety check prior to leaving, this includes checking tire pressure, ensuring that your spare tire is safe and checking vehicle fluids.
- Plan your route in advance and plan an alternate, just in case.
- Have a vehicle emergency kit ready.
- Don't drink and drive.
- Be prepared for heavy traffic and travel delays.
