Whether you’re driving to the mall to get some Christmas gifts, you’re coming into town to visit family or you’re heading to the airport to catch a flight, traffic in Atlanta during the holiday season is wild, to say the least. Trying to get around the city is only made worse by the fact that public transportation is completely unreliable.
If you’re planning on heading out of town or driving around Atlanta this holiday season, it’s important to be safe while you’re doing so. At the Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner, we are here to help anyone who gets injured in a car wreck in the city. Give us a call at 404-869-1580 or contact us online today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an Atlanta car accident lawyer.
Traveling Safely for Thanksgiving
If you’re like so many others in Atlanta, you may be heading out of the city to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family. If this applies to you, it’s important to know the best and safest times to hit the road, both before Thanksgiving and after to come home.
If you want to travel at the safest time, you’ll need to go to bed early on Wednesday. The best time to leave Atlanta is 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. In contrast, the worst time is 3 p.m. on Wednesday, as that’s when most people will be heading out.
Unfortunately, the best time to travel home is 3 a.m. on Friday, since most people don’t want to drive then. The worst time to travel back to the city is 3 p.m. on Sunday. Since you most likely won’t want to get up and drive home at 3 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, consider heading back sometime Friday afternoon or on Saturday.
Even if you’re not heading out of town, you may be doing some last-minute shopping for the big meal. The worst time to head out to the bakery is noon on Wednesday when the crowds will be the largest. Liquor store and grocery store crowds will peak between 5 and 6 p.m. on the same day. Your best bet to get your last-minute food and other supplies is early in the morning on Wednesday and at closing time.
When it comes to Black Friday shopping, crowds peak between noon and 1 p.m. However, if you want to catch a movie like Frozen II with your family, it’s best to do so on Thanksgiving or early in the day on Friday. Crowds at the theater peak at 6 p.m. on Black Friday after their shopping is done.
Traveling Safely for Christmas, Hanukkah and Other Winter Holidays
Some people will be flying to the Caribbean for a tropical winter vacation. Others may be heading to a different city or state to be with family for the holidays. While holiday travel will mean heavy traffic, the good news is there probably won’t be much snow or ice on the roads of Atlanta in December.
Even so, it’s important to be safe no matter where you’re driving, whether it’s to the airport or to the mall:
- Make sure your car is maintained. Check your tires and oil levels to make sure you won’t face any avoidable issues.
- Don’t leave valuables in plain sight. If you’re going shopping, make sure anything you buy is in your trunk or otherwise out of sight.
- Be ready for heavy traffic. If you use Waze, Google Maps or another GPS program, you will likely get a heads-up for any heavy traffic on your route.
- Have roadside assistance on hand. You may have AAA or roadside assistance through your insurance company. If not, you need this service!
- Keep your phone charged. You should always keep a charger in your car to make sure you’re never without a phone in case something goes wrong.
Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer if You Get Injured
No matter how safe you are when you drive this holiday season, there’s always the chance that you can be injured in a wreck due to someone else’s actions or negligence. If that happens, you have legal options. A car accident doesn’t have to ruin your holiday season. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Give us a call at 404-869-1580 or contact us online today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an Atlanta car accident lawyer.