Thanksgiving Travel Dangers — And What to Do About Them

Thanksgiving is almost here — and you’re eager to hit the road. Whether you plan on driving for a few minutes or a few hours, your journey may be more perilous than you suspect; data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates an uptick of 19 percent in traffic accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday. Read on to learn about the most significant Thanksgiving travel dangers — and what you can do to stay safe.

Increased Traffic

Traffic isn’t just a workweek phenomenon; Thanksgiving can spark truly frustrating jams. Combine the usual pitfalls of traffic with drivers determined to arrive at family gatherings on time, and you have a recipe for disaster. As you plan your route, add plenty of drive time to account for traffic. Check traffic reports the day of your trip and be prepared to take detours, if necessary.

Distracted Driving

Don’t be surprised if your phone goes off constantly during your journey. This is to be expected as your friends and family members consult about upcoming festivities. Resist the urge to text while driving; either dictate responses to the person in the passenger seat, or better yet, turn your phone on silent.

Drunk Driving

It might not live up to the terrors of New Year’s Eve, but Thanksgiving attracts its fair share of intoxicated drivers. A release from the U.S. Department of Transportation reveals that, between 2012 and 2016, over 800 people died in crashes related to alcohol impairment during the Thanksgiving holidays. Thanksgiving has recently become a big night for bars and nightclubs; to avoid drunk drivers, plan for an earlier drive home.

If a negligent driver has caused you or a loved one suffering, you deserve justice. Look to Regan Zambri Long PLLC for compassionate counsel and aggressive personal injury representation.

About the Author

Patrick M. Regan, Esq.

Patrick Regan is a board certified personal injury lawyer and a founding partner at Regan Zambri Long. His practice is devoted to helping those who suffered catastrophic injuries in car accidents, truck accidents, Metro accidents, and medical malpractice. Over his nearly 40-year career, Patrick has obtained some of the most significant jury verdicts in the history of Washington, DC on behalf of injured victims. Patrick is licensed to practice law in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland. He received his B.A. at Hamilton College and his J.D. at the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.