Happy Fourth of July from Clark and Smith Law Firm!

We hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday. While we encourage you to celebrate our country’s independence with friends and family, we would also like to remind you to be especially cautious while driving. Car wrecks and trucking accidents are more likely to occur on during busy holiday travel days - so stay alert!  Highways and other roads will be more congested than usual because of holiday traffic. Distracted driving is always a danger, especially with electronics in the car such as iPads, music players, cell phones and DVD players. Keep in mind that other drivers might be preoccupied with these devices and be less likely to pay attention to their surroundings. While looking at electronics, they are more likely to drift out of their lane or fail to check their blind spots. To stay safe and alert, limit the use of these devices in your vehicles and drive especially cautiously. If you are driving at night, be aware that safe driving is of utmost importance because some drivers on the road are likely to fall asleep at the wheel. Make sure that you are refreshed and fully awake before you begin driving.

Road construction is another distraction when driving on highways and surface roads in our state.  Sometimes road construction performed by the DOT can distract drivers.  Please don’t be the driver who refuses to follow the speed signs while driving through construction zones.  Unfortunately, there are times when caution signs and detours for construction zones are not properly marked.   Don’t assume the

The Fourth of July is also a big holiday for parties with alcohol, so we urge you to never drive when you have been drinking. With these precautions, you can feel confident that you will have a safe trip.

 On another note of safety, always monitor children’s use of sparklers, and never let a child light a firework or bottle rocket. Every year, there are thousands of firework-related injuries, so don’t let your child be one of them! Before lighting fireworks, you should also check to make sure that it is legal in your state. For other Fourth of July safety tips, visit the Red Cross website (http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.94aae335470e233f6cf911df43181aa0/?vgnextoid=45935d795323b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD).

By following these easy tips, you can enjoy the Fourth with as little worry as possible. Have a relaxing and safe holiday!