Holiday Travel, It’s That Time of the Year Again!!!

Holiday travel introduces unique risks that amplify the likelihood of fender benders. The season brings increased traffic volume as families journey to celebrations, creating congested conditions where even minor errors can lead to collisions.

A fender bender car accident might seem like a minor holiday inconvenience, but these seemingly small collisions often hide complications that can impact your wallet long after the decorations come down. During the bustling holiday season, these minor crashes become surprisingly common as drivers navigate crowded parking lots, unfamiliar side roads, and busy driveways. I have observed this increase in claim activity for over 30 years, and it starts soon!

Thanksgiving stands out as particularly hazardous. Research spanning five years determined that the week of Thanksgiving consistently shows a major jump in automobile accidents. The Sunday following Thanksgiving typically has the largest percentage of out-of-state accidents.

Another factor contributing to holiday accidents is the combination of unfamiliar routes and distracted driving. Divided attention creates perfect conditions for minor collisions, especially at intersections or in stop-and-go traffic.

How parking lots become danger zones

Holiday parking lots transform into accident hotspots as shoppers compete for limited spaces. Auto insurers report that insurance claims spike on Black Friday and remain above normal throughout the holiday season. Tens of thousands of crashes occur in parking lots and garage structures annually, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.

Distraction plays a major role in these incidents. According to an NSC public opinion poll, 66% of drivers nationwide admitted they would make phone calls while driving through parking lots. Other distracting behaviors included:

• Programming GPS systems (63%)
• Texting (56%)
• Using social media (52%)
• Sending or receiving emails (50%)
• Taking photos or watching videos (49%)

Furthermore, backup incidents account for 9% of pedestrian deaths in parking lots. The combination of distracted drivers, pedestrians with shopping bags, and vehicles competing for spaces creates a perfect storm for minor collisions that can have major consequences.

The best advice that I can give to avoid a holiday collision is to be an alert and defensive driver. While operating a vehicle, there should be nothing more important going on. If there is, stop the vehicle, pull over, and deal with what is most important. When parking in a lot, pull thru a space so that you do not have to back out or carefully back in so that you can drive straight out. 

If you are in an accident/fender bender

Your first priority must be safety. If your vehicle is drivable, carefully move it out of traffic to the shoulder, nearby parking lot, or side road. Turn on your hazard lights. Once in a safe location, check yourself for injuries before assessing passengers and other parties involved.  Document everything with photos and notes.

Get contact information for everyone involved and any uninvolved witnesses (this could be the difference between being at fault or not.

Watch out for next month’s article on accident scene best practices. And remember to call Atlantic Insurance where “Having The Right Coverage Is No Accident!”