Traveling this Thanksgiving

Let's be honest.  Thanksgiving, although it is the holiday for giving thanks, brings much stress that we could all use less of.

You pack the kids up, you grab the dish you prepared and you hit the road.  Earlier I wrote about how Thanksgiving is the deadliest of holidays in respect to car accidents.  If you missed it you can read it HERE.  

I want to talk about what you can do to avoid car accidents whether it is on Thanksgiving or any day.

Seat belts, Seat belts, Seat belts.  The best offense is a good defense.  When looking at the statistics for deaths on Thanksgiving not all of them are caused by the driver who is killed.  The other drivers on the road always have been and always will be one of the most non-controllable dangerous aspects of driving.  Buckle up!!

Distracted Drivers.  Keep your eyes on the road.  Here is another non-controllable aspect of other drivers BUT you can control whether you are distracted.  Put your cell phones down, don't play with the radio and pay attention!

Aggressive Driving.  Stress.  This will cause many things.  Running late and speeding, spending the day with family, "Are we there yet" from the kids every five minutes.  All these things will tend to cause a person to drive aggressively.  This is another thing you can control while you drive but pay attention to other drivers!

We cannot control everything but what we can control is WHAT WE DO!  

Buckle up
Pay Attention
Drive safe and within the speed limit
DON'T drink and drive

Remember this holiday is to reflect what we are thankful for.  

• Be thankful that you have family you can spend this day with.
• Be thankful that you can share a meal with family as some go hungry.
• Be thankful that you have a vehicle to travel in.
• Be thankful that you do not have to work.
• Be thankful you have a job.

No matter what you are thankful for....please drive safe and pay attention.  Your life, the life of a loved one or the life of a stranger depends on YOU!!

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Pueblo Office: 113 W. 12th Street  (Map it)

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Thanksgiving ranks as most dangerous holiday to drive

I would have thought that this title would belong to New Years Eve and Day because of the drinking aspect of the holiday.  I was shocked to learn that Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday we have in respect to car accidents.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner so if you plan on traveling or if you have those traveling to your house you need to read this.




Here's the reason why:  Information provided by RITA: Research and Innovative Technology Administration of the Department of Transportation.

• An estimated 91% of Americans will travel by car to reach their destination Thanksgiving
• The number of Americans on a road trip longer than 50 miles increases by 54%

Thanksgiving is a "short" holiday which will increase the speed travelers use to get to their destination.  We have more people ON the road and more people speeding to their destination.  

We also need to look at the road rage that happen with more people on the road. More aggressive drivers, in a rush to get to their destination is a deadly combination.

According to Forbes.com:

Thanksgiving Day
Number of Fatalities in 2008: 502
Average Number of Fatalities Per Year Since 1982: 567
Average Percentage of Alcohol-Related Fatalities Since 1982: 41%

Looking at these statistics alcohol related fatalities, during the four day Thanksgiving holiday, a little less than half of the deaths. Looking at the holidays to choose from alcohol related deaths would seem to belong to New Years. Maybe people who go out drinking on New Year's Eve are getting smarter about responsible drinking but seem to forget this over Thanksgiving. 

I couldn't "figure" out why so many drink on Thanksgiving then I remembered the Bowl games.  Big weekend for college football.  This explains a little bit of the drinking on this holiday.

Gas prices have always been a determining factor on how many people are on the road over the holidays.  If gas prices are high than people will "reconsider" driving long distances to see family that they will see again over Christmas.  

No matter what the reasons are you need to be aware that Thanksgiving day is a dangerous day to be on the road so if you plan to travel...travel safe, watch your speed and please do not drink and drive.

Like Zeisler & Associates, Attorney at Law, PC on Facebook or visit their website.

Pueblo Office: 113 W. 12th Street  (Map it)

Colorado Springs Office:  422 E. Vermijo Ave., Suite 412 (Map it)