PCI urges Thanksgiving travelers to prioritize safety

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As travelers set out for Thanksgiving celebrations, the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America (PCI) outlined simple steps to modify driver behaviors that can prevent crashes and save lives.

Avoiding distracted driving, designating a sober driver, wearing seat belts, allotting enough time for travel and abiding speed limits were at the top of PCI’s list of Thanksgiving travel tips.

“Distracted driving — and the ubiquitous use of smartphones behind the wheel — is one of the leading causes for the rise in vehicle crashes nationwide,” Bob Passmore, the assistant vice president of personal lines policy at PCI, said. “Advanced technologies have made cars safer than ever in recent years, so it would be logical to think that roadway crashes and deaths would be decreasing. Unfortunately, vehicle crashes and fatalities are actually rising sharply across the country, and the risks increase on high-traffic holidays like Thanksgiving.”

In fact, nearly 40,000 people died in auto crashes in 2016, according to the National Safety Council. The number of fatalities was among the most dramatic recorded in the last 50 years.

PCI also advises travelers to update proof of insurance before departing on long trips, having a roadside assistance plan in place to avoid unscrupulous towing companies, and taking note of “crash taxes” that can charge motorists fees from $100 to more than $2,000 to at-fault drivers in crashes.