The Holiday Rush: 5 Tips for Surviving Driving this 4th of July Weekend
July 2, 2015 | in Cool Driving, Defensive Driving Tips, Drunk Driving
The Fourth of July is one of the busiest travel days of the year. And as such, the roads can be a stressful and even somewhat hazardous place. This makes getting from one location to another a rather more stressful event than it would normally be. To help keep this holiday as stress-free and safe as possible, we have put together some key tips for owning your travel this Fourth of July weekend.
1. Set off early
If at all possible, set off early for your destination. If you are driving across the country, be aware that July 2nd and 5th are set to be the heaviest travel days by far, so if you can leave on any other day, do so! If you are going somewhere on the Fourth, plan some extra time, and try to be patient with the heavy flow of traffic so that you arrive at your destination in one piece.
2. host a party
Better than planning the right day to travel, is to not travel at all. Hosting your own party can be a good way to avoid the madness on the roads, and might even be more fun than going to a larger event. And if your friends live close by, then no one will have to worry about driving a long distance on the Fourth.
3. if you are going to an event, avoid driving where possible
If you are going to huge Fourth of July event or party however, try to avoid driving if at all possible. Since these things often occur in big cities, public transport is probably a viable option, or if you are ok with holiday price hikes, try a ride sharing service.
4. take all measures to avoid drunk driving
Last year there were over a hundred collisions on the Fourth as a direct result of drunk driving. Don’t become one of these. Take public transport if at all possible, but if you must drive, make sure that you have a trustworthy designated driver–and if no one else can, step forward and maybe save some lives.
5. plan ahead
Planning is everything when it comes to a chaotic holiday like the Fourth of July. Whether you are spending it with family or with a large group of strangers, make sure that you have thought of every possible scenario, and that you will not end up as another statistic this holiday. And if you do this, you will probably find that your stress levels increase as well!
