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This holiday season, Texas will be on the move. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be heading towards vacation destinations, familial homes, or rushing to the stores for last-minute holiday shopping. With all these people on the road, accidents will happen. When you’re on the road during peak holiday travel hours, you should be prepared for three dangers: three common driver impairments that spike during these months.
Impaired Driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every 50 minutes, a person is killed in an alcohol-related accident. During holidays such as New Year’s Eve, many people celebrate by drinking alcoholic beverages, and then they choose to drive themselves home after the party.
Even if they are not above the legal limit, drivers who drink have impaired judgment-making skills and slowed reaction times. Make sure that if you choose to drink during the holidays, you do not drive. Take a cab or rideshare to and from events, and if that is not an option, consider finding a designated driver amongst the people heading with you to the event.
Fatigued Driving
According to data from the National Safety Council, after 20 hours of being awake, drivers behind the wheel will have the same issues as drivers with a blood alcohol content of .08%, such as severe judgment lapses. Fatigued drivers can also suffer from impaired attention spans, making it harder to focus on the road ahead. This means drivers who spend too much time awake during the holidays can be serious hazards. There is, however, one simple solution to defeating the problem of fatigued driving: Sleep! Sleeping seven or more hours is the best way to defeat fatigued driving.
Distracted Driving
Driving requires all of your attention. When you’re behind the wheel, ensure you aren’t using your phone or your car’s media center. Distracted driving can have serious consequences, as when your eyes aren’t on the road you cannot react to any changes on it.
The Payne Law Group Is Here For You.
f you’ve been involved in an accident with an impaired, distracted, or fatigued driver, the experienced personal injury attorneys at } are here to help. Call us at (979) 300-7406 for a free consultation.