Travel Safety Tips To Follow This Labor Day |
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Irving, Texas. August 14, 2019 –
Ready to spend the last days of summer at various Labor Day festivities and celebrations throughout the state? One of the great things about living in Irving is that you don’t have to travel too far to have a good time.
Whether you’re spending your Labor Day weekend in town and having a backyard BBQ with friends or traveling to Dallas or Houston to visit friends and family, here are some safety tips to consider while you’re driving to and from your destination.
Plan For Traffic Congestion
During holiday weekends, heavier traffic than usual is expected. Although it can be difficult to plan around traffic, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and check out alternate routes, especially if you’re on a time crunch.
Navigation apps are great tools to have when you need directions or find out travel information in real-time, but make sure that you check out more than one source. Some apps may not be accurate or up-to-date. Never use mobile apps while you’re driving.
Keep Your Eyes Off Your Phone
Even though Texas state law makes it unlawful to read, write, or send text messages or emails on your mobile device while driving, distracted driving continues to be a problem. The Texas Department of Transportation reports that in 2018, 18 percent of the accidents were directly related to a distracted driver.
Whether you’re looking for directions or queuing up your playlist, only use your phone when you’re not driving. Remember that distracted driving is not just checking and using your phone while driving but anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or your mind off of driving. Try to designate tasks, such as handing out snacks to the kids or finding directions, to a passenger.
Designate a Sober Driver
Heading to a Labor Day celebration or across town to your friend’s house to have a few drinks? If you plan on drinking alcohol, designate a sober driver. It’s important to note that a sober driver is someone who is committed to not drinking any alcohol. If your designated driver has had a few beers, they could be buzzed enough to have impaired judgement behind the wheel.
What to keep track of your BAC? There are plenty of apps and online tools that are designed to help people figure out their blood alcohol concentration. It’s important to keep in mind that these apps are not always accurate and they are not intended to be used as a safety tool. If you have any doubt, don’t drive.
Plan Alternate Driving Arrangements
If you don’t have a designated driver, consider some other options to get to your destination safely. Drunk driving accidents are preventable and if you can’t drive safe and sober, you can take advantage of mass transit or ridesharing options.
If you’re traveling to the Houston area during the Labor Day, check out this sober ride opportunity. If you have friends or loved ones in the area, inform them of this opportunity.
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