How to Stay Safe During the Busy Holiday Travel Season

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This joyful day of gathering for food and gratitude marks the beginning of the holiday season, with Black Friday and holiday shopping kicking into high gear. But did you know that the roads can be equally crazy?

Unfortunately, Black Friday also marks the beginning of a deadly time for drivers, as people crowd the roads to complete their holiday errands and travel through November and December. Here's how to increase your odds of rising in the New Year in one piece.

Thanksgiving Weekend Can Be Deadly

The day before Thanksgiving is generally the biggest travel day of the yearYour Money Busiest Travel Day Of The Year Business, and there's no sign that people are staying home. Travel has continued to increase since the lifting of pandemic lockdowns, and this year 80% of people say they'll driveHeres Why 80 Of Thanksgiving Travelers Will Drive Says Cars Com Survey 459056 Articles to get where they're going. The National Safety Council estimated 515 Thanksgiving traffic deaths in 2021Motor Vehicle Holidays Thanksgiving Day Injuryfacts.nsc.org. 

The sheer number of cars on the road increases the risk of accidents, but traffic isn't the whole story. Drunk driving, night driving5 Tips Driving Night Over Holidays Blog, and poor weather conditions can all make the roads more dangerous as people head home from their feasts. On Black Friday, road rage can also play a role, as drivers compete for parking spaces and crowd the roads near shopping centers.

Stay Safe and Alert This Holiday Weekend

You can't control the weather and other drivers, but you can still do your part to make sure you get where you're going safely this Thanksgiving. For starters, brush up on your defensive driving skillsDefensive Driving Basics Safe Driving to minimize the likelihood of accidents. You'll want to make sure you:

• Always buckle up

• Maintain a safe following distanceSafe Following Distance Safe Driving 

• Minimize distractions, especially cell phones

• Obey the speed limit

• Give yourself extra travel time

• Stay calm in heavy traffic

If you've been drinking or simply feel sleepy after a heavy turkey dinner, don't get behind the wheel. You can always call a cab or ride-share service instead.

Great Holiday Gifts for Drivers

Black Friday can bring traffic headaches, but it also offers great deals on holiday gifts. This year, consider giving the gift of safety. If you drive an older model vehicle, you can retrofit it with new technology to enhance safety. For example, shop for an aftermarket backup cam and dashboard monitor to make parking easier and increase visibility in reverse.

Likewise, aftermarket parking sensorsCommercial 4 Sensor Rear Parking Sensor System Product can alert drivers to obstacles and prevent fender benders. These can be applied to both front and rear bumpers of cars that don't have this technology built in.

If a high-tech solution isn't appealing, a blind spot mirrorDp B01CV4ANCC?th=1 Ampper Blind Mirror Frameless Convex makes a great stocking stuffer! These small, convex mirrors attach to your existing side view mirror to offer a wider view. They're an inexpensive way to increase visibility and make changing lanes easier.

A safety kit also makes a useful — and affordable! — gift. You can buy one ready-made, or put together your own emergency kit33 Items You Should Include In Your Emergency Car Kit Blog with items like:

• Extra water

• Road flares

• Non-perishable snacks

• Blankets

• Flashlight 

• First aid supplies

• Refillable gas can

The Best Safety Gift to Buy This Black Friday

Looking for a gift idea for a new driver in your life? Aceable's online driver's ed coursesDrivers Ed are the ideal way to support teens and young drivers as they begin their journey toward licensure.