The summertime often seems an uptick in travel and social activity. People across New Jersey buy concert tickets, plan road trips to the beach and attend festivals. Special events ranging from holiday barbecues and fireworks displays to Renaissance festivals may draw thousands of people to one location.
Those who live or work in urban centers often find that the roads out of town are clogged with people on Friday afternoons. Those who drive to attend special events like concerts often encounter traffic jams, especially after the end of the event. Unfortunately, special events and beach trips don’t just end up delayed by traffic. There could also be a crash that ruins the day. All of those people traveling to the same destination at once may increase the chances of a serious collision.
Event traffic can be particularly dangerous
There are many factors that contribute to the overall risk of a crash when headed to popular destinations like the beach or leaving an event attended by hundreds or thousands of people. Obviously, the volume of traffic is a major safety concern.
The more vehicles there are in one location, the easier it is for a small mistake to lead to a wreck. Additionally, those vying for parking at the beach or trying to get home after a festival may be quite aggressive when they drive, which can also contribute to crash risk. The possibility of some of those people being under the influence of drugs or alcohol is also an unignorable collision risk.
Even though those who put on special events sometimes make arrangements to mitigate traffic congestion, all of the risk factors present during travel related to summertime activities put everyone attending an event or headed to a popular destination at risk of a crash. When crashes do occur, the pressure to reach a destination and get home quickly might lead to people making mistakes.
Properly reporting and following up on a motor vehicle collision is important for those in need of compensation afterward. A trip to the beach or attending a concert with friends should not lead to financial losses and injuries for innocent travelers pursuing summertime adventures. People who recognize high-risk situations can potentially avoid a crash. If they can’t avoid one, they may be able to hold a negligent party accountable for causing one.