Christmas Decorations and Road Safety

Even though the holidays are a time for joy and celebration, they also bring new risks to transportation. Whether on homes or in and near vehicles, Christmas decorations could unintentionally trigger road accidents. SilverOak Solicitors wants to make sure that you can enjoy the holidays safely by being careful on the roads.

How Can Christmas Decorations Affect Road Safety?

Christmas lights make people feel happier and more grateful for the little things in life, but they can also be dangerous if they are not taken care of properly. This is how they might improve road safety:

Distracted Driving
Some drivers may find it upsetting to look at holiday lights and fancy displays. People might not pay attention to the road as much if there are bright, flashing decorations on houses or in public places. This can result in an accident.

Blocked Vision
For the holidays, some motorists adorn their vehicles with string lights, streamers, or other things. Though they could make it more difficult to see out of the windows or in the rear view mirrors, these decorations could not appear harmful. They would therefore make driving less safe.

Less visibility for others
Cars with too many decorations might hide their turn signals or stop lights, making it harder for other drivers to guess how they will act.

Dangerous road conditions
When the weather is bad, decorations that fall off of buildings or cars can cause crashes and traffic problems.

Tips to Stay Safe This Holiday Season

Below are some helpful tips to lower risks and make sure everyone is safe while decorating your car or home:

Limit distractions
Don’t take your eyes off the road to look at the Christmas lights. Don’t slow down all of a sudden or let traffic take your attention away from the signs.

Avoid overloading vehicles with decorations
Do not put too many holiday decorations on the outside or inside of your car. Don’t put loose items that could fly around if something goes wrong, and make sure they don’t get in the way of windows, mirrors, or lights.

Check your exterior decorations
If you really want to go all out, make sure that any decorations you put outside are strapped down so they don’t fall onto the road or sidewalk. Use weather-resistant fixings to keep them in place during winter storms or strong winds.

Be mindful of pedestrians
Holiday preparations can also take people’s attention away from walking, especially kids. When you drive by neighbourhoods or popular display places, you should always be careful.

Plan your route
If you want to see Christmas decorations, plan your trip ahead of time. You can enjoy the shows by walking without putting yourself or others in danger.

What to Do if You’re Involved in an Accident

If holiday lights or other distractions cause a car accident, it is very important to:

• Look for bruises and be careful as you stop.
• Exchange information with the various parties involved.
• Photograph the location for damage and risks.
•  Report the incident to your insurance company.
• If you think negligent or dangerous behaviour caused the accident, consult legal advice.

How SilverOak Solicitors Can Help

If you were in a car crash over the holidays, our staff at SilverOak Solicitors is ready to help. We specialise in personal injury cases, and we can help you get paid for harm or losses caused by someone else’s carelessness and neglect.

Please call us right away at 020 8578 7778 to set up a free meeting. Stay safe this Christmas, and let us help you protect your rights in case something goes wrong.