More than 100 million Americans are expected to travel during the holidays this year despite high gas prices, hotel costs and other financial pressures. That means the highways in Connecticut will be crowded and will likely see their fair share of accidents.

If you and your family are hitting the road, keep these basic safety tips in mind to help reduce the risk of getting involved in a crash:

• Don’t drink and drive, but assume others do — About 45 percent of all traffic deaths from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day occur in crashes that involve alcohol. If you consume too much alcohol at a holiday get-together, make sure you take an Uber or Lyft or have a sober family member or friend take you home. Even if you don’t drink, be prepared to drive more attentively and defensively than usual, because there will likely be more impaired drivers to avoid.
• Avoid distractions — You may need to arrive at your in-law’s house at a certain time and they may wonder where you are, but avoid the temptation to text updates while you’re driving. Don’t check Facebook or email, either. Reading a text takes your eyes off the road for about five seconds. If you’re traveling at 55 miles an hour, you’ll cover the length of a football field in that short time.
• Don’t be distracted by your kids — If you travel with children, you know how they can take your focus off your driving. You can easily be distracted by laughter, horseplay or the sound of a movie or video game. If you need to calm a child down, pull over to do so.
• Stick to daytime driving — Driving at night is inherently more dangerous, so try to drive during daylight hours as much as possible. This will help you see better and keep you off the road after dark, when there are more likely to be intoxicated holiday partygoers driving home.
• Get your rest — Preparing for holiday trips can be stressful and it’s easy to lose sleep. Do your best to relax and get plenty of sleep before you head out. Driving while you’re overly tired can slow your reflexes and cause you to nod off at the wheel.
• Watch the weather — Connecticut snowstorms can pop up at the worst times. Keep an eye on the forecast and give yourself additional driving time if needed.

Following these tips, and of course buckling up and driving at safe speeds, can help you and your family stay safe on the roads this holiday season. In the unfortunate event that you do get involved in a crash and someone is injured, make sure you seek advice from an experienced auto accident lawyer.

At Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C., our personal injury attorneys handle all types of auto accident cases in Connecticut. Call 203-745-0942 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation at our Hamden or East Haven office.