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Driving Safely On Independence Day

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July Fourth a time when Americans gather to celebrate the birth of American independence over 240 years ago. Fireworks, parades, backyard barbeques, and soirées will abound in locales and domiciles all over Colorado. As a result, thousands of people will be traveling. As a result, more cars will be on the road—and more people will be at a higher risk of getting into a car accident.

Last year, Colorado saw the deadliest year of traffic fatalities in over a decade. Not since 2005 has the death toll reached the 600s. Last year, 608 people died in traffic accidents. This rise in traffic fatalities certainly takes into account the increase in travel and driving while under the influence during the holidays—and Independence Day is no exception.

Here are a few safe driving tips for a safe Fourth of July:

Before getting in your car, make sure your vehicle is in good working order. That means your tires have proper tread and pressure, your oil and fluid levels are good, the lights and windshield wipers are working, etc.

Always put your seat belt on. Seat belts save lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), wearing a seat belt cuts your chances of dying from a car crash-related injury by half. Make sure your passengers are buckled up too. If you have infants or children, make sure they are properly secured in their car seats or booster seats.

Don’t drink and drive. Why? It’s illegal and irresponsible. Drinking alcohol slows reaction time and impairs judgment and coordination—all of which are crucial to driving a car safely. 

Keep the speed limits. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Remember you are sharing the road with thousands of other drivers. It’s not a race.

Stay alert. Pull over to a rest stop, gas station, or other safe location if you feel drowsy. Drinking caffeine, rolling the windows down, or listening to loud music has not been shown to be effective in helping drivers stay alert when drowsy. You’re better off taking a short nap in your car at a safe resting place. Resume driving only when you’re ready.

Minimize the distractions in your car. Although you can’t control the distractions outside of your car, you can certainly control the ones inside. Avoid using your cell phone while driving, even if it is a phone call, and especially if it involves texting. If you need to use GPS navigation, set it before you leave or while your car is stopped; never try to use it while driving.

If you are traveling with someone, ask him or her to change the music, set the GPS, call or text someone, etc. Wait until you arrive at your destination to apply makeup. Avoid eating and opening food packaging while driving. It only takes one or two seconds of distraction to make a fatal mistake.

Be especially careful driving on rural roads. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), more accidents occur on rural roads than any other venues.

Secure your pet. If you are traveling with a canine, feline, or other four-legged friend, make sure it is secured in a travel carrier or crate.

Should any vehicular accident befall you while driving, Bachus & Schanker, LLC can help. They have been in practice for over twenty years and their team of professionals knows how to keep the law on your side. Let them put their legal acumen and personal injury law experience to work for you.

Sources

http://www.denverpost.com/2016/01/19/colorado-sees-deadliest-year-of-traffic-fatalities-since-2008/
https://www.codot.gov/library/traffic/safety-crash-data/fatal-crash-data-city-county/historical_fatals.pdf/view
http://www.enddd.org/safety-on-the-road/freedom-from-distracted-driving-top-10-safe-driving-tips-for-the-4th-of-july-weekend/

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