Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and the holiday season is certainly a time to be thankful for—great food, time with family, and time away from work. Families of different cultures and sizes all across the country will be gathering to spend time together and to give thanks.

Even though people are from different places, they will all have one thing in common—traveling.

In 2007, 33.8 million people traveled over Thanksgiving weekend, and the number has only been growing since then. This holiday season, take care to make sure your family gathering comes and goes safety.
 

• A good start to any road trip is making sure your vehicle is prepared for a long journey. Checking important functions on your vehicle could save you and your family from a world of trouble. Make sure that your tire pressure is at the recommended level for your particular vehicle and tires. Also, check your oil, seeing that the level is not too high or low. Check your mileage, as well, to ensure your oil has been changed recently enough. Another important element to check for winter driving is coolant. If you have too little coolant, your engine can overheat. Proper car functions are imperative to a safe family trip.
• Checking the weather before you leave your home can help you determine what to expect on the roadways. Weather is temperamental, and being prepared for the worst is always safest. Carrying a flashlight, blankets and jumper cables is a smart move for any traveler. Being prepared for emergencies by carrying road flares or reflective emergency triangles can also be useful. In addition, bring a cell phone along, but make sure not to use it while driving.
• Other things to remember and keep your family safe include wearing seat belts, keeping your speed low, and not overdoing it with the food. seat belts save lives, obeying the speed limit is beneficial to everyone on the road, and not eating too much can prevent tiredness and lethargy when you are on your way back home. Also, distracting your children with quiet activities keeps them from distracting you and allows you to focus properly on driving safely.

Unfortunately, not all drivers take safety seriously, and tragic things happen on the road. Difficult travel conditions and busy roads can be too much to handle. If you or your family gathering was interrupted or cut short by a Southern California car accident caused by a negligent driver, contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney at Steinberg Injury Lawyers at (800) 989-6385.