In the St. Louis area, Easter is yet another great spring holiday for celebration with family and friends Over Easter weekend, many will take to their cars in order to travel to family or friend’s homes to share in food and celebrations. But when you are getting in the car to travel to your favorite family member’s home or to attend a great Easter egg hunt for the kids, remember that traffic over holiday weekends is always more hectic and dangerous.
While the holidays that usually have high car accident rates are New Year’s Ever, Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day; but, any major holiday weekend with increased highway traffic increases the likelihood of more auto accidents. So, take some precautions so that you may help reduce those auto accident injury and fatality numbers:
- Listen to local traffic and look for ways to avoid over crowding on roadways.
- Before you go, check your battery, tire tread, tire pressure, windshield wipers and wiper fluid
- Make and take with a you an emergency road kid including flashlight, fresh batteries, jumper cables, warning flares or triangles, first aid kit, mobile phone and car chargers
- Check the weather report and prepare accordingly. Be patient and do not let yourself become distracted
- Do not use your cell phone while driving
- Wear your seat belts
- Keep the kids busy and entertained with snacks, games and frequent stops. Traveling with the family can be full of distractions and the driver should not be distracted while trying to entertain the kids. Kids should be properly restrained in their car seats
- Take a break every two hours or 100 miles
- Do not drink and drive.
It is critical that is if you are driving over the Easter weekend that you plan your travel. While Easter weekend is not statistically one of the most dangerous auto accident weekends, it is a long weekend for many and involves increased highway miles traveled. However, any holiday weekend involves more people in cars traveling. In 2012, According to the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, there were 826 people killed in Missouri traffic crashes. Seven out of 10 Missourians killed in traffic crashes in 2011 were unbuckled. Nearly 30 percent of Missouri traffic fatalities in 2012 involved a substance-impaired driver and the leading causes of crashes include speeding, substance-impairment and inattention.
Since the leading causes of accidents are speeding, inattention and influenced driving (substance-related), then you can do your part by not speeding, paying and attention and not driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When you plan your travel, you can make good decisions about allowing time so you do not speed, pay attention and plan your celebrations around your travel by designating a sober driver or staying overnight.
If you have been involved in an auto accident where you were injured and the other driver may have been speeding, inattentive or under the influence, then you will need legal representation. Our attorneys understand the complexity of car accidents. We understand that a car accident can drastically change your life. Attorneys at The Cagle Law Firm aggressively represent injured victims of accidents. We are available seven days a week to answer your questions, toll free (800) 685-3302 or locally, (314) 276-1681
