Mardi Gras is the time of year when people from all over the country — sometimes even the world — flock to New Orleans for a carnival experience like none other. The month-long festival plays host to parties, celebrations, parades, concerts, and much more. One of the activities most commonly associated with Mardi Gras is alcohol consumption.
A majority of tourists plan to drink and often rely on taxi services rather than a rental car. This may lower the risk of DUI accidents, but residents of New Orleans and the surrounding areas should still be wary of traffic conditions. Allow these four Mardi Gras driving tips to safeguard you during this 2018 carnival season.
Plan Your Commute
No matter if you are a local or a tourist, you can benefit from planning your commute. The reason being is that Mardi Gras is not an event that only occurs in one isolated area. The Mardi Gras parades go through Slidell, Metairie, Uptown New Orleans, Marigny, Covington, Madisonville, West Bank, Mandeville and many other areas. To avoid taking a path that is temporarily cut off by a parade or getting stuck in backed up traffic, plan your commute before you leave the house.
Drive Carefully
One thing that remains true about tourists no matter where you are in the world is that they often have no clue of where they’re going. They often find their way around with the help of a GPS, but it is generally quite difficult for someone new to the area to get around without it. By driving carefully, you can avoid colliding with a driver who may have missed his or her turn and slammed on the brakes or is attempting to take photos of the scenery while driving.
Remain Focused
As someone who is a resident of the area, you too can get caught up in the allure of Mardi Gras festivities. As you make your regular commute, you see the streets flooded with people walking to and from their destination, numerous events taking place, and advertisements of the many more to come. It is vital that among all of the chaos that you remain focused and operate your vehicle safely. Something as simple as recording a video while driving can be enough to take your attention off of the road and cause an accident.
Yield to Pedestrians
Yes, there will be many pedestrians during Mardi Gras, probably plenty more than usual. Your responsibility as a driver is to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and keep an eye out for those who choose to cross illegally. By yielding to all pedestrians, you can prevent a possibly life-altering accident.
In the event of a Mardi Gras car collision, reach out to the car accident attorneys at E. Orum Young Law offices for legal counsel. They can inspect the specifics of the accident, discuss your legal options, and help you secure fair compensation. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. Our Trial Guarantee ensures that we will take your case to trial per your request.
