The holidays are a mixed bag of fond memories, family gatherings, and merriment. The holidays are also full of mishaps that, if not avoided, can end up ruining the excitement in the air. One thing that you certainly will do this holiday is travel, mostly by car. At Davis Paint & Collision Auto Center, we want to make sure that you and your family are safe by sharing the most helpful tips we know to keep you away from an auto collision.
When we talk about an auto collision, we’re not just referring to car-to-car accidents and fender benders. We are also addressing collisions such as snow or ice falling on your vehicle and other non-accident damage to your car that happen more often during this time of the year. Please remember to share these tips with friends and family so that we can all enjoy the holidays.
#1: Pace yourself
You may be tempted to rush to places to do your holiday shopping and this may get you in trouble. If you have had snow or ice, as many parts of the country are experiencing, pacing yourself allows you to react to unpredictable slowdowns by other drivers or in cases where you need to swerve to avoid an ice patch. Plan ahead and take your time as you travel about the roads.
#2: Take time to find a good parking spot
We all hate parking further that we have to, but parking just a little farther can help you avoid unnecessary dings by people in a hurry to do their shopping. During the holidays, parking spots seem to disappear and we’re all fighting for the same few spots. According to a national insurance report, the number of claims from side dings and paint chips skyrocket during the holidays. Find ample parking away from the crowd to avoid having to deal with ugly dents on your car.
#3: Beware of falling ice and debris
Falling snow, ice, and other debris can cause huge damage to your car, from shattered windshields to damage on your car’s body. Since you may be parking in new places you’ve not been before, always be aware of nearby structures with debris that can come down on your car.
#4: Minimize destructions while driving
We’ve all been guilty at one time or another of being destructed while behind the wheel and while it may not seem like a big deal, it is. Some cars nowadays come with hands-free technology that you can plugin so you don’t have to be fiddling with your phone while driving.
Sleep-deprived drivers pose as much danger as drunk drivers on the road because it only takes seconds of destruction to cause untold damage. Try getting enough sleep or riding with a family member or friend if you feel like you’re not up to the task yourself.
#5: Embrace ride-sharing services
Sometimes, you just don’t need to drive yourself, especially when you’ve had a drink. It’s ok to call an Uber or Lyft. Make sure you have these ride-sharing apps downloaded ahead of time before you find yourself in need of them. At the end of the day, it’s about getting you safely from one point to another and these services do provide this very service.
When the inevitable happens
Sometimes in life, even after crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s you may end up with an auto collision. We’ve covered what to do immediately after an auto collision but here’s the short version:
- Make sure everyone is safe and call 911 to report the incident
- Document the collision by taking photos of the scene and vehicles and contact details of the parties involved
- Call your insurance agent
- If needed, have your car towed
- Bring your car to a Davis Paint and Collision Auto Center near you. We’ll take it from there.
Conclusion
From all of us at Davis Paint and Collison Auto Center, we’d like to wish you happy holidays and hope you have a great time with your loved ones. For all auto collision and auto body work including auto repairs, you can count on us to deliver a quality job. Davis Paint & Collision Auto Center has been doing just that for almost 30 years now! Call one of our locations today: Oklahoma City location 405.733.9797, South Oklahoma City location 405.691.1820, and Midwest City location 405.732.0762.
