The American Automobile Association (AAA) is estimating that 42.5 million holiday travelers will be visiting loved ones this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Almost 90 percent of these travelers will be reaching their destinations via U.S. roadways. Motorists who don’t use a little extra caution during the holiday travel period could be at considerable risk of being involved in a car accident in New York City or elsewhere in the country.
Manhattan car accident attorneys know that Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings and quite understandably a time to give thanks for loved ones in your life. However, traveling to family gatherings is not the only thing that makes our illustrious city dangerous on this particular holiday. The 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will draw all sorts of motorists and pedestrians out to New York City roadways to celebrate its 85th anniversary this year. Over 2.5 million viewers are expected to come out and line the streets to watch floats, novelty balloons, character balloons and marching bands among others in the 10,000 estimated participants.
With so many people populating the City this weekend, it makes sense for pedestrians and motorists to be extra careful as you mill around Central Park, Manhattan and the surrounding areas. The National Safety Council is predicting over 430 deaths nationwide this Thanksgiving holiday period which runs from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday. In addition, another 43,400 people are expected to be injured and need medical attention from traffic accidents throughout the weekend. When comparing similar non-holiday periods in recent years, the average number of traffic fatalities for Thanksgiving holiday periods was more than 10 percent higher.
Holiday travelers can help the cause and reduce the risk of injury by using some of the following safety tips this Thanksgiving weekend.
Parade tips for pedestrians:
-Arrive early to get a good viewing area and avoid walking amongst a large mass of people.
-Walk with the flow of pedestrian traffic to reduce the risk of fall accidents. Walking against the crowd on over-populated sidewalks can be detrimental if a slip or fall accident occurs.
-Keep children close by holding their hands at all times. Getting separated can not only be dangerous but it can be frightening for both parent and child.
-Stay away from moving floats or parade marchers by remaining on the sidewalk.
Travel tips for motorists:
-Focus your attention on driving rather than other distractions inside the vehicle like children, pets or radio dials.
-Buckle up. It is not only the law but it will reduce the risk of driver or passenger injuries when an accident occurs.
-Exercise defensive driving not aggressive driving skills by remaining patient and alert at all times.
-Take breaks frequently on long trips to stay refreshed.
The Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC want to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. If you live or are visiting New York City or the surrounding areas and are injured in a car accident, contact our experienced car accident attorneys for a free appointment to discuss your case. We are dedicated to fighting for the compensation you deserve so call 1-877-313-7673.
Additional Resources:
AAA Projects 42.5 Million Americans Will Travel This Thanksgiving, Four Percent More Than Last Year, by Cynthia Brough, AAA News Room.
More Blog Entries:
Drowsy Drivers Causing Car Accidents in New York a Top Concern, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, November 12, 2011.
Holidays Bring risk of Defective Product Injury in New York, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, October 28,2011.
