Safe driving includes extra attention during holiday rush

That last-minute shopping for the holidays can run a bit hectic. The malls are packed, the roads are busy and, to add to the mix, the roads are often slick and dangerous this time of year, too. For shoppers, with their focus on making their final purchases before December 25th, keeping their attention on driving is a challenge.

Since other drivers are facing the same dilemma, the potential for fender benders or more serious accidents is real. To make matters worse, the risk that the ‘other’ driver was reveling in the season and imbibed a little too much liquor is another possibility. In other words, even if you’re not distracted by the shopping season, extra attention when driving is an excellent idea.

According to a 2011 study by the Illinois Department of Transportation, average daily traffic fatalities are as high during the Christmas holiday as they are for Memorial Day and the 4th of July. But, many holiday shopping accidents are of the parking-lot variety – low speed fender benders.

Drivers are rushing to reach an open parking spot closer to the door. The stores are going to close and drivers are in a hurry to park and go inside.

The hazards include other drivers and pedestrians. Whatever the accident, it tends to put a damper on the season. It can even effect how much money is available for holiday shopping once drivers get inside the mall (a costly accident can siphon funds away from other areas, such as gifts).

It’s a good idea to think about driving while you’re driving and think about shopping after you’ve parked and safely walked to the store. With your focus uninhibited by other thoughts, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding an accident. If you are involved in an accident, even of the minor variety, it’s liable to significantly interfere with your shopping.

It’s also a good idea to make sure your car is prepared this time of year. Have you had it winterized? If not, you could come out from the store to find that you car won’t start. If your tires are balding, you could have trouble getting traction to move on a particularly slippery day. You may discover that your antifreeze froze because it was old and worn out.

Whether driving or preparing to drive, a little forethought is a good thing. Make sure your cell phone is charged and keep some blankets in the car in case you get stuck and you need to stay warm. Dress appropriately, too. Yes, it only takes a few minutes to run into the store from your car but what happens if you have a flat tire or your car won’t start. You may find you wish you had your winter coat, hat and gloves.

Here at Performance Unlimited, we wish you a safe and happy holiday.

For more information about Performance Unlimited, call 815-728-0343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com.

Comments

Is your antifreeze safe from freezing this Richmond winter

You still have time to have it checked Well, there’s no denying it – winter tends to get chilly here in Richmond. We have to deal with snow and ice on the roads, scraping the same off our windows and windshield, and staying warm while we drive. Of course, you had your antifreeze checked before winter rolled into town. What?! You didn’t have your antifreeze checked before winter clamped down on Richmond? So, how’s your antifreeze doing? If you haven’t had it checked, there’s really no way of knowing, is there? This car has overheated in the middle of a Richmond winter. But, on the other end of the spectrum, the antifreeze can also freeze if it's not up to its job. Hopefully, you haven’t had a serious problem with your antifreeze already. If you did, you’d probably know. When antifreeze fails, it’s a potentially catastrophic condition for your vehicle’s engine. You could have hoses that have burst because of freezing antifreeze. Worse than that, your engine block may have crac...

Blocks of ice falling from cars in McHenry could cause accidents or damage

We’ve all seen those blocks of snow falling from behind the rear tires of a car when the snow rolls into McHenry . Fortunately, they’re just packed snow that will disintegrate under your vehicle’s tires as you simply drive right through them, right? Don’t count on it. Those blocks of snow are often packed so tight, condensed by the thaw-and-freeze cycle, that they’re anything but oversized snowballs . They’re often more like boulders. Hit one of those blocks and the collision between the block and one of your tires could send you careening off the road or into oncoming traffic. In some cases, they’re so solid you could pound them with a sledgehammer with little effect. They truly can represent a serious road hazard. The problem is that it’s difficult to tell how solidly they’re packed when you see them on the road, left their unwittingly by another driver. Either way, your best bet is to try to avoid them. But you want to be careful dodging blocks of ice in the road, too. You need...

Get out to McHenry Music Festival for a good time and music near to home

Some folks here in McHenry will load up the car and head out to Red Rock Amphitheater near Denver to see a show. Some will go to the MSG Sphere near Las Vegas. Some will go to the Bonaroo Festival Concert to see a show. That’s quite a bit of driving and you’d better make sure your vehicle is up to the trip. What happens, however, if something goes wrong – if your vehicle breaks down while driving there or back? What happens if the show is canceled, as happened this year with the Bonaroo Festival? We’re talking about some serious inconvenience, aren’t we? Wherever you go, whether your driving to Colorado, Nevada, Tennessee or anywhere else in this continent, you want to perform your due diligence and make sure the vehicle is up for the trip before you go. And it doesn’t really matter if you’re driving somewhere to see some live music or for any other purpose. A breakdown can be costly and may put you at the mercy of weather conditions or nefarious characters that come across you while y...

Performance Unlimited Blog

Search This Blog