The year 2020 has looked different than most, and the holidays are no exception to this rollercoaster of a year. Las Vegas is typically among the top five travel destinations in the United States during the holiday season, and if people continue to travel despite the pandemic, the roads will surely become more congested during the holiday season.
Traveling Despite the Pandemic?
Even in the middle of a global pandemic due to Coronavirus, millions of Americans are planning to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday despite a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to news reports by CNN. According to Transport Security Administration (“TSA”) figures, the number of U.S. travelers screened at security checkpoints Thanksgiving week surpassed 1 million only for the second time since March 2020. That being said, this number is less than half — 40%, to be exact — of the people screened the same time last year. These travel numbers are despite a warning issued by the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) urging Americans not to travel during the holiday.
For those who decided not to fly but rather drive to their destination, the numbers have also changed some, but not as much as flying. According to AAA Travel, there should be a less than 5% drop in travel by car during Thanksgiving for a total of 47.8 million travelers in 2020. Travel by other modes of transportation such as trains, buses, and cruises, is expected to drop by more than 75% to 353,000 Americans.
Staying Safe
If you do have to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday and choose to do so by car, you can stay away from car accidents by following the safety tips listed below:
Plan Ahead of Time: a good way to avoid car accidents is to plan the route you intend to use before starting your trip. Preparing early can put you at an advantage including:
- Understanding the amount of time needed to reach your final destination;
- Identifying adverse weather conditions that you may encounter during your trip;
- Being able to plan your trip around peak traffic times in major cities along your travel route; and
- Mapping out alternate routes in the event of delays so your travel plan can be quickly adjusted.
Perform Car Maintenance: ensure that the vehicle in which you will travel is properly maintained before leaving on your trip so you can safely reach your intended destination. Below are critical maintenance checks to do:
- Tire pressure, tire tread, and spare tire;
- Headlights, tail lights, turn signals, and brake lights;
- Windshield wipers;
- Fluid levels for all fluids;
- Ignition system function and battery;
- Top off your vehicle with gasoline;
- Thermostat, air conditioning, defrost and heating systems; and
- Exhaust system.
Have Emergency Supplies: in the event there is an accident, your car breaks down, or you encounter poor weather, keep the following items handy in your vehicle:
- Emergency roadside assistance information;
- Jumper cables;
- Ice scraper;
- Cell phone battery and charger;
- Emergency radio;
- Blankets;
- Food and snacks;
- Cat litter to help with tire traction;
- Prescription medicine, as needed;
- Flashlight;
- Basic tool set; and
- Water.
Contact Our Attorneys
If you or someone you care about has plans to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, be sure you prepare and stay safe. If an accident does happen, contact the skilled attorneys at H&P Law for help filing an insurance claim. We will fight to secure the compensation you deserve.
