Holiday Driving and Stress

The claim that “stress kills” is absolutely true. Aside from the negative effects on your body, stress also influences the way that you make decisions and the amount of risk you’re willing to take.

When that stress turns to anger and you’re on the roads during the holiday season, you may well be flirting with a Dallas car accident that will certainly put the damper on your holiday cheer.

It’s impossible to overstate how much of a risk speeders pose to the other people on the road. The speed limits take into account pedestrians, the size of the road, the sharpness of the corners and many other factors. In short, they’re not arbitrary and there’s a reason that speed limits are laws, not driving tips. Obey them. When you get stressed, it’s natural to try to blow some steam off by driving a bit faster. No matter how irritated you are at the crowds or how much it means to you to get to the mall before it closes so you can get the perfect gift, it’s not worth your life or anyone else’s and that’s exactly what you’re risking.
Stress also tends to make people very aggressive. If you were being chased by a large predator, this would definitely give you an edge. If you’re in a car being delayed by someone who doesn’t know how to park or who is otherwise holding up all the traffic, stress is a liability. Breathe, put on some relaxing music or do whatever you have to do to calm down. Don’t start trying to bully other people around on the road; you’re endangering everyone.
When the weather turns bad, stress sometimes manifests as fear. Your number one protection against bad weather conditions is slowing down. In areas with severe winters, drivers will sometimes slow down to almost a crawl. They do this because most of them have lost control at least once and don’t want a repeat performance. Even if you’re in a rush, don’t try to argue with the weather: It will always win.
If you’re hurt this holiday season because someone wasn’t thinking of anyone but themselves out on the roads, call a motor vehicle accident lawyer. They may be able to put together a case that could win you compensation for your injures and for the loss of your vehicle, or any other damages you’ve sustained.