With the holidays quickly approaching, the street is becoming crowded with last minute holiday shoppers. Living in a fast paced metro like Dallas-Fort Worth with fast paced commuters can become overwhelming. Here are some tips from us at Accident Centers of Texas to take control this winter season and avoid accidents.
PREPARING FOR THE DRIVE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Now that the season has changed and the weather has started to get colder, you will want to give the road plenty of caution and care to safely get where you are going. Here are some tips to ensure that you can properly prepare you and your family on the road this holiday season:
- Turn on any traction control on the vehicle and adjust your speed accordingly. Remember, the roads will become harder to drive on if it has been sleeting or raining. Be aware of black ice, you may not see the ice and rain will make any oil on the road slick. According to TxDot there were 130,856 auto accidents in 2016 due to weather related conditions.
- Check your headlights. Make sure the roads are visible in the dark, clean the headlight covers along with the brake lights, signal lights, bright lights, and any backup lights. The best way to do this is to remove the lamp covers. There are several at home hacks that can be used or products from any store that sales automotive parts.
- Ensure that your tires are still in good condition. Don’t forget to check air pressure and you can always do the penny test for tread!
- Maintain a safe distance behind any vehicle. Stay at least 2 car lengths behind the vehicle in front of you. Cautiously check your mirrors and place any mobile distractions on hold until you get to your next destination.
- Replace windshield wipers and top off windshield wiper fluid, make sure to leave in enough time to heat your vehicle as well as giving enough time to melt any ice or frost off your windshields.
- Prepare an on the road emergency kit. Include things such as water, blankets, and heat packs for any off road unplanned event.
STAY CAUTIOUS ON THE ROAD
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were no deathless days on the road in 2016. Be sure to take the proper precautions and keep aware of drivers around you.
- According to TxDot there were 21,317 injury related crashes that could be caused by weather conditions. Keep off the road as much as possible when it has been sleeting, snowing, raining, or poor weather.
- As the sun moves closer to the horizon, it becomes blinding to drivers during rush hour. Always keep sunglasses handy and never look directly into the lights of oncoming traffic at night. As a driver ages, glare, distance, and lighting may become less clear and bothersome. At 60 years of age or older, a person will even begin to judge speed less clearly. And a 50 year old will need twice as much lighting as a 30 year old.
- Child safety can be the hardest and most timely to maintain, as we would like to bundle up our children during the colder months, remember that a harness on a car seat can be impeded by overly thick coats and blankets. Make sure to use thinner materials in a car seat. You can use blankets, mittens, hats and booties to ensure that all children will be able to keep warm in the car. But a child restraint system may fail during an accident if the child is able to slip out due to overly thick jackets or snow gear.
WISHING THE BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
This season should be filled with joy, thanks, and family cheer. Make sure to keep safe this holiday season and prepare for the weather during the colder months. Start the new year right and keep your shopping rush to a minimum. Be aware of your surroundings and keep in mind that more time is needed to get from point A to point B during the month of December.
We would like to wish you and your family a happy holiday, keep in mind to call us even when your trying to stay prepared and in top notch health if the cold is keeping your movement limited. We are here to help and want you to enjoy this winter season, so if you are involved in a car wreck and sustain an auto injury be sure to contact Accident Centers of Texas right away. Our team of chiropractors in Dallas-Fort Worth aren’t just qualified, they care!
