Help prevent a traffic jam this Labor Day weekend

If you are traveling this Labor Day weekend, you may be bracing yourself for an inevitable traffic jam. Nothing kills your excitement for a long weekend like getting stuck in stop-and-go traffic. And, Labor Day is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. That also makes it one of the most dangerous.  Crowded highways and frustrated drivers can make a deadly combination.

Analysts expect this year to be especially busy, with the lowest Labor Day weekend gas prices since 2004. With these numbers in mind, the National Safety Council estimates that 483 will die on the roads this weekend.

Here are some weekend travel tips to make your road trip a little easier.

How to help prevent traffic jams and car accidents

Did you know – not every traffic jam is caused by  a car accident or road work. Often, drivers traveling at inconsistent speeds or weaving in and out of traffic can cause a jam.

• Try to maintain a consistent speed, rather than speeding and braking. When you speed and brake, the driver behind you has to brake also. As does the driver behind them. On a crowded highway, this can back things up.
• Avoid switching lanes unnecessarily. Frequently switching lanes can have the same effect. And, weaving in and out of lanes of traffic can also be dangerous, and increase your chance of an accident.
• Don’t obstruct the flow of traffic by traveling in the left lane, particularly if you are driving at or below the speed limit.
• Don’t tailgate. Even in standstill traffic, it’s important to leave some space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
• Stay alert. A traffic jam might seem like a good time to check your phone or reach for a snack, but it is extremely important to pay attention to your surroundings. Many times, a driver not paying attention in stop-and-go traffic will rear-end another driver who had to brake suddenly.

As always, respect the speed limit, stay alert, and insist that all drivers and passengers wear a seat belt for the whole trip. If you or someone you love have been hurt in a car crash, contact a car accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation.