Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner. For many of us in Belleville and the rest of southern Illinois, this year’s holidays mean a long road trip to visit friends or family. Especially after having to stay home in 2020, millions of Americans are looking forward to driving out of state to see people they might not have seen in person in nearly two years.
5 types of bad holiday drivers
If you and your family are among those planning a holiday road trip, you need to be careful. There will be a lot of other drivers on the highway, and some of them will act carelessly or outright dangerously. Here are five potential hazards you could encounter this holiday season.
- Speeders. Many drivers, running late or just feeling impatient, will drive far above the speed limit. The faster a vehicle is going, the harder it can be to stop or get out of the way of a hazard quickly.
- Aggressive drivers. Similarly, too many drivers use aggressive tactics like tailgating, swerving in and out of lanes, and merging too closely.
- Drivers who don’t adjust for winter weather. Driving through most Northern states in December can mean dealing with snow, sleet, icy rain and slick roads. Unfortunately, you might end up near a driver who is not used to winter driving and loses control. Or worse, a driver who knows better but chooses to drive as if the roads were clear and dry.
- Drunk drivers. Drunk driving is a problem all year, but especially around the holidays as people choose to drink at parties and drive home afterward.
- Mechanical failure. Not every car, truck and SUV is in good enough shape for a long road trip. But drivers don’t always know about mechanical problems until they break down on the road.
Any of these things can cause a serious car accident. A wreck with a negligent driver can do more than ruin your holidays. It can cause long-term or even permanent disabilities, or cost the life of someone you love.